New-York tribune., 1882-08-14
srccEss WITH CELERY.

To practical gardeners. especially those VINO COM
Isuuicate through LIE tribune, / acknowledge in
Gcbicdness for hints that have enabled me to grow
successfully every species of garIen vegetable
celery alone excepted. With tins plant my success
W., partial and uncertain, and thought for a tIme
with others. that success IN celery growing de-
pended wholly upon the character OF the sol, and
not uoon tie method of culture. While it l. IN
d0nofellv true that certain soils ale spetIdl ly
adapted to this crop as at kalamazoo anu SltNai
vet 10 is certain tu3t me celery iuay be raised
Ia auv good garden eOil If the matter OF lrr "a
non Is not neglect a. ! inter this 10 be uue
from recent observation OF a number of experiments
made ia a variety Ot soils. ne son oi our oWa
garden Is heavy yellow loan, IA Die to bake II not
kept well stirred. The only ferdlIZcrs tnat nave
ben used Iu the last SIX years are SCOT from me
tucs and furnace-plpcs, leaves ana lawn-lnoWlhss'
scIaplncs from the walks and garden nlle1 sonelee
ally, supplemented by few whceiOarroW iOaos oI
roadside droppings These latter are spread upon
the surface IN the fall and are allowed 10 remain All
winter However, | have nothing 10 say against
enrchino the soil: all know that TIL, viii en-
bauce the growth OF any crop.
wish now especially to speak Of the bhgbting
effects of rust, and how 10 prevent this che upon
The growth of the plant In the pursul. of my
tavontc study-botany-and in my search for speci-
mems of TINS particular and puzzliug family re-
uembered the expeditions through meadow and
swamp the draggled skirts and wet shoes that re-
suited from even midday incursion upon the
habitat of tins mOistnre-lOving family of plants.
thought of the great, green, succulent stems OF
many Of them, reaching IN some Instances away
above ny head and drew my own inierences.
resolved to test the matter and see whether. after
all water might not De he Indispensable condition
of success. | have proved II TO nv own satlstac-
tlOn, and now invite readers OF The TRIBUNE 70
Try II for themselves. | will briefly state the main
pom of culture | prefer grow celery IN
trenches from l y TO feet deep; 1st, because II
facilitates irrigation 2d, because II easier 10
earth up large plants IN trenches; 81, because he
plan are thus buried where they grew. and simply
heed Op covering 10 preserve them for the winter
prefer a single row Of plants a ditch, because
II the only way TO have fine plants, as there must
b room for growth and development. l prefer to
stake each plant. and secure uprghtness of growth
b. repeated tieings We all know how an upright
growing plant is weakened by it's being allowed to
decline from a vertical position. 1t also easier TO
cultivate the ground about the plants and draw the
earth very gradually and slowly around them with
ont choking the plant if the stems
hGd Ii position with Dand4ges. never
freely al any hour Of the day. / should suppose a
meadow "A spot near running stream would for
M4ny reasons be best, bat 1t would be perhaps
necessary to remove the plants IL the fall and ore
them elsewhere II winter prefer To Int them Just
when needed for The table, have them washed
scrupuiously clean without breaking or bruI,ing
Iue stems and then cut ID very thin, transparent
slices for the table No stable litter should be
used to cover celery for the winter. TAe speedy
ferne ntaIOn and consequent beat INJURIES the lavOr
o. the celery and induces rapid decay.
After covering well with earth, use dry leaves,
cornstaks or any clean dry htter topping all
with little brush OF few boards. When the first
frosis arrive cover lightly and continue the cold
increases to add more protection, until when tho
snow falls late in November your celery lies snug
uuder perhaps three feet Of leaves and litter When
you wish 10 obtain II. rake with a small hand
rake digging-fork ali the leaves from one side of
yOu plant, remove the ground perpendIcula 10
the very rootlets, and lift carefully One plant
Will be amply sufficient if YOU have done
your duty IN the growing season and now with
careful preparation you may have a bouquet Of
cehcate anu crystalline transparency, beautiful to
thc eve and tcmpting TO the palate One of ,oTr
correspondents asks whether celery is a cure for
rheumatism. OF tins | can say nothing. | believe
It's virtues have been proved IN cases of nervons :
pros,ratiOu and dyspepsia. and believe that CAR
den and garden work would be a. valuable 10
many ladies of sedentary habits yearly trip 10
the sea shore Mrs Ii. NJ. CrideT, York Co. Peun.