Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1896-10-16
77s5ilG972:F.ARMmEs.
FlEL1aNp CARDEN
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HOW TO BLANCH CELERY.
1he Expeditions Methods of Modern Gar
doners Described Winter Storage.

fhe Expeditions Methods of Modern Gar
doners Described Winter Storage.
The old custom of repeatedly handling
the plants has given way to more ex-
petitions methods, and it is generally
conceded that one billing before the
final banking is sufficient. When ready
to hill the plants, cultivate deeply be-
tween the rows; then draw the soil
loosely about the plants with hoe or
a scrapcr made for that purpose. This
killing should not be done till the
plants have thickcned up considerably,
rs the leaf stalks do not thickcn after
the soil is drawn about them. If bank
ing with earth is to be practiced, one of
the machines made for that particular
purpose will be found very helpful, says
a correspondent Of Rural New Yorker
and authority for the following:
For blanching 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 fail use will, of course, need some
attention, as from four or six weeks
are required to blauch the later crop.
Boards arc seldom employed i'll blanch-
ing this late crop.
On well drained soil the plants may
be left i'll tho rows till the last of No
vcmber. IF the plants are well banked,
a 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 III
some celery growing districts is, on well
drained Soils to mako beds of four to
six double rows of plants with a wall of
earth bctwcen--in effect 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 i'll 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 the first approach of
cold weather. The secret Of success in
the winter storage of celery is to keep
it cool. As severe winter weather ap-
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 &c
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 fOl
rats ami mice If the crop is to be dis
posed of as early as January, it may
well be stored il cool cellar or pit.