The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1885-06-11
CELERY.
Directions for Growing This Desirable
Escuient.

| SiOHlHS CcleIl. we VIII give IHcIn
from the beginning of the process and
as briefly as possible. Sow the seeds
in the open and well pulverized rich
ground as soon as the land can be
worked. Keep the bed clean of weeds.
In July or August set out the plants
for the crop. If you desire, however.
you can purchase plants, and if it is the
intention to grow only enough for
family use that is the better way to do.
Celery must have plenty of manure and
it should be thoroughly mixed with the
soil before planting When the ground
is well prepared, stretch rope across
the bed and walk on it, or otherwise
cause it to make a mark which shall
designate the row. Set the plants six
inches apart, and the rows four feet
apart if the celery is to be banked up
for early use. If grown for winter use
two feet is wide enough for the rows.
Set the plant just to the depth of the
root. Pack the soil well to the roots.
This can be done with the foot. The
plants may be set from the last week in
July to the middle of August. Nothing
uCCh UC dilCi
keep free from weeds, until September,
when the earth should be drawn each
side of the celery and pressed tightly to
it. In this way the leaves are trained
upward. If this work should be done
by the middle of September, the celery
will be ready to bank up by the first
week in October. This is done by dig
ging the soil from between the rows
and banking it up on each side of the
row of the celery. 1t can be used in
three or four weeks from the time of
banking it up. But if it is not wanted
for early use, but for winter, then it is
put away in trenches or in the cellar.
| We give the methods of preserving in
the cellar and trenches. Peter Hender-
son says that perhaps the best way to
keep celery for family use is in a cool
cellar. This can be done by storing it
in narrow boxes, of depth little less
than the height of the celery. A few
inches of sand or soil are placed in the
bottom of the box, and the celery is
packed upright, the roots being placed
on the sand or soil at the bottom; but
| no sand or soil must be put betCceR the
stalks of the celery, all that is needed
being the damp sand on the bottom of
the box: the meaning of which is, that
| before celery will blanch or whiten, it
| must first start at the roots; hence the
necessity of placing the roots on an inch
or so of damp sand.
Boxes thus packed and placed in
cool cellar in November will be blanched
fit for use during January. February
nd MaY.oh. thnr,oh
will be better to put it in the boxes,
from the open ground. at three differ
ent times. say October %; if boxes, how
ever, are not at hand. the celery may
be put away on the floor of the cellar,
in strips of eight or nine inches wide,
divided by boards of width equal to
the height of the celery. That is if the
celery is two feet high. the boards sep
arating it must be about the same
height. The reason for dividing the
celery in these narrow strips by boards
is to prevent heating. which would Oc-
cur if placed together in too thick
masses. The dates given above apply,
of course, to the latitude of New York:
| if further south, do the work later; if
further north. earlier.
II OuC uCio lO CClldI, Illt CCl-
cry can be very readily preserved in the
manner followed by market gardeners.
Thus, after it has been handled" or
Strengthened up, as before described,
what is intended for use by Christmas
should be dug up about October %; that
to be used in January and February by
November 10; and that for March use.
bv November 20, which latter date is as
late as it can be risked here. Although
it will stand quite a sharp frost, the
weather by the end of NOvem-
ber is often severe enough to
kill it, or so freeze it in the
ground that it can not be dug up. The
ground in which it is to be preserved
for winter use must be as dry as posi-
BILE, and so ARA ,ged that no water can
remain in the trench. Dig trench as
narrow as possible Gt should not be
wider than ten inches, and of depth
equal to the height of celery: that is. if
the plant of celery be eighteen inchLs
high. the trench should be dug eighteen
inches deep. The celery is then packed
exactly in the manner described for
storing in boxes to be placed in tine
cellar; that is, stand it as near upright
as possible. and pack as closely together
as can be done without bruising it. No
soil or sand must be put between the
stalks. As the weather becomes cold,
the trenches should be gradually
covered with leaves or litter to the
thickness of six or eight inches, which
will be enough to prevent severe frecz-
ing, and enable the roots to be taken
out easily when wanted.
Another method now practiced by the
market gardeners of New jersey is as
follows: Before the approach of very
cold weather (say the middle of Decem-
ber the celery in the trenches is pressed
somewhat closely together by passing
spade down deeply alongside of the
trench on each side, but about three or
four inches from the celery. 1t is best
done by two men, so that they press
against each other, thus firming the top
of the celery in the trench until it is
compact enough to sustain weight of
three or four inches of soil. which is
taken from the sides of the trench and
spread over the celery. This earth
covering keeps it rather fresher than
i the covering of litter. though. on the
approach of cold weather, the earth
covering is not sufficient. AMI cover
| ing of six or seven inches of leaves
must yet be placed over the earth cover
ing Western Rural.
"A tramp who called at farm house
/ to ask for cold bite was almost paral
yzed at being welcomed with smiles and
kind words and having a fine repast
| laid ont for hin, In s>xpla N q ti0n tho