The Cass County Republican. [volume] (Dowagiac, Mich.) 18??-1880, 1861-06-06
From the American Agriculturalist for April.
How to raise Celery.

A description of celery is unnecessa-
nv, for most of them who live in or
near cities, where it has long been a
staple article for the table, but is as yet
cultivated in comparatively few farm
ers' gardens. lis native of England,
where it grows as rank, coarse weed,
in marshy grounds. BY cultivation,
the best stalks, which are edible, have
been rendered crisp and delicate, of
most agreeable flavor, and equal if not
superior to any other plant for salads.
1t is also used as favoring for soup and
made dishes. When once generally
known, it will be considered as indis-
pensible in the garden as lettuce or
cabbage. 1t is usually eaten in fall
and winter by proper management it
may be had from August to April.
To raise celery for summer use, hot
bed is need, which should be prepared
in this latitude, as early as the second
week in March. After the hot-bed is
made in the usual manner, but with
about twelve inches of soil upon the
manure, allow it to stand ten or twelve
days for. the weeds to spring up, which
can then be destroyed, and the bed
kept clean with very little trouble.
Make drills six inches apart by pressing
the edge of board into the soil an inch
deep, and SOW the seed. The solid
white variety is generally preferred.
When the plants are up, thin them to
an inch apart. Air them short time
each morning; keep them shaded with
mats on clear days from about 10 A. NJ.
till p NJ. Water with cold water
about twice week, applying it at noon,
and Immediately replacing the mats.
Hoe between the rows to keep out the
weeds, only when the plants and soil
are dry otherwise they become rusted
and are spoiled for after culture. When
about three inches high, or near the
first of May, they are ready for trans
planting. 1t is we'll to give more air,
to harden them off, few days before
moving them.
Dig trenches one foot wide, two feet
deep and four or FIVE feet apart. But
In six inches of well ,rotted cattle or
hog manure, fill it with six inches OF
soil and mix the whole thoroughly.
Choose a clear day, water the beds
freely an hour or more before trans
planting, that the earth may adhere to
the plants. Fork over the prepared
soil in the trenches, and leave the mid
die rounded up higher than the sides.
Put in the young plants twelve inches
apart, and shade them for few days
to prevent willing.
Hoe them occasionally to keep out
weeds, but only in dry weather, and
when the leaves are free from dew, and
always be careful to keep all earth
from the center of the plant otherwise
it viii rust and be spoiled. Draw in
earth enough from the sides of the
trench to cover the lateral roots three
inches deep, but do not draw together
the heart OF the plant while young. If
drouth occur, frequent hoeing is better
than watering. When eight or ten
stalks are formed, and the tallest is ls
inches high, draw in earth from the
sides, and bank up the plant as high as
the first outside leaf-draw the stalks
together, while doing this, and be care.
full to keep earth out of the center
When the heart is grown up even with
the outside leaves, give second earth
ing, draw it up so that the bank stands
about two feet high. As soon as the
heart reaches to the outer leaves AGAIN.
the celery is ready for use. 1t will at,
tain this point about thirty days after
the first banking. - -
For fall and winter celery, choose a
rich sandy loan, and enrich it with
plenty of good manure, thoroughly
worked into the soil. Sow the seeds
in drills foot apart, the same as d.
rected above. Thin them to about
half an inch apart. Hoe frequently to
keep down weeds and supply moisture,
but never while the dew is on. The
plants will be ready for trenches about
the first of July, after which the treat
ment is the same as described above.
Further directions for diggings prepar-
ing for winter, etc., will be given at the
appropriate season. MANY of these
hints are derived from a treatise by
Mr.. Roessle, probably the most success.
full cultivator of celery in this country
NThe editor of the Texas Gdzett6