The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1896-10-01
HOW TO eLANCH CELERY.
The Expeditions Methods of Modern Gar
dcners Described Winter Storage.

+ ne Expeditions hflhoIs ~ hpdfTh Nhr-
deners Described Winter Storage.
The old custom Of repeatedly handling
| the plants mas given way to more ex-
petitions methods, and it IS generally
conceded that one killing before the
/ final banking is sufficient When ready
to mill the plants. cultivate deeply be-
tween the rows; then draw the soil
loosely about the plants with hoe or
/ a serupcr made for that purpose. This
billing should not be donc till the
plants have thickened up considerably,
as he leaf stalks do not thioken after
tine soil il drawn about them. If bank
ing with earth IS to b. practiced, one of
I the machines made fer that particular
purpose will be found very helpful, sa-s
a correspondent Of Rural New Yorker
and authority for the following:
For blanehing the early crop the use
of boards is preferred to that of earth.
Celery intended for the winter markets
| is not usually blanchcd before storing,
though it is well to hill it up slightly
| to straightcn up the leaves and make
! the plants compact That intended for
late fall use Will. of course, need some
attention, as from four or SIX weeks
are required to blanch the later crop.
Boards are SELDOM employed IN blaneh-
| ing this late crop.
On well drained soil the plants may
be left in the rows till the last of No
vember If the plants are well banked,
little freezing Of the tips of the leaves
will do no harm. The mistake of apply
ing winter protection too early is often
made, thus injuring the crop by keeping
| it too warm.
| For winter storage the method in
some celery growing districts Is, ON well
drained soils, to make beds of four to
six double rows of plants with II wall of
earth betwecn--in effect u series of
parallel trenches on the surface of the
ground. Bank up on the outside till the
| tips of the leaves just show above the
surface of the bed. Leave the bed IN this
condition till hard freezing begins; then
throw two or three inches of soil over
the surface Let this soil freeze hard
| before applying litter and never apply
heavy covering at tho first approach of
cold weather. The secret of success in
the winter storage of celery is to keep
ii cool As severe winter weather APP
proachcs the covering of litter may be
increased unless there should be a fall
of snow. To open the beds take the lit
ter off from one end, break the crust of
soil with pickax and remove any de-
sired amount of the celery; then care
fully replace the covering. This plan
has the merit Of cheapness and for hold
ing plants through the winter is pref
cradle to pit or cellar.
The treatment of celery stored in
trenches varies, In general, however, it
is best to have the trenches only wide
enough for two or three rows of plants;
otherwise there will be loss from heat
ing. a single board is laid over the top
of the trench, or in some cases two
boards are put together, forming a span
roof. AS cold weather comes on, soil
and litter are thrown over the outside of
the boards 1t is seldom advisable to
place leaves and litter inside Of the
boards next to tho plants, not only be-
cause of the heat but because this
forms a convenient nesting place for
rats ami nice II the crop Is To be dis
posed Of as carly as January, it may
well be stored i'll cool cellar or pit.