Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1897-12-11
&c per yard Sc per spool; 2 for Sc

| The plants for the main crop will be
ready to transfer to the field early in Ju-
| ly. They are usually placed six inches
apart in rows five feet distant. The old
practice of setting the plants in trenches
| is little followed at the present time.
| If the rows are sufficiently far apart.
| the after culture is best done with a
horse. but in no case should deep culti-
walton be permitted, as the RIOTS extend
through all the space between the rows
and Should not be disturbed. In short
until time of handling" the culture
| need not be essentially different from
that given to potatoes.
| For early use the plants started in
March may be transferred to the open
ground about the first of June.
The old custom of repeatedly hand
! ling or packing the earth about the
growing plants has given way to more
expeditions methods and it is generally
conceded that one billing before the
final banking with earth is sufficient
This killing should not be done till the
| plants have thickened considerably, about
Il month or six weeks before using, as
after the earth is drawn about them the
| leaves grow tall very rapidly without in
creasing in diameter.
| When ready to hill the plants, cultivate
| deeply between the rows. then draw the
soil loosely about the plants with hoe
| or a scraper made for that purpose This
operation makes a slight bank, not more
| than one-third the height of the plant
which straightens the stalks and holds
them in an upright position. If the soil
is in good condition, it will be unneces-
Sary to pack the earth around individual
plants by hand.
Blanching is the first step towards de-
cay, and the exclusion of air and light
and the consequent abnormal condition Of
the tissues render the plants. during
this operation. specially liable to disease.
For this reason the operation is delayed
r,nccih1a plonfc f0p
the first use are generally banked about
eight or ten weeks after transplanting.
For bleaching the early crop, the use Of
boards is preferred to that of earth The
work is done more expeditiously, and
there is less trouble from rotting. The
method consists simply IN placing boards
about foot wide along each side of the
row with one edge close to the plants.
The men then go along and raise the
boards to a vertical position. placing
in place. A very good clamp is made
by saving two notches about an inch
wide and three inches apart In a short
piece Of board. These clamps will then
hold the boards perfectly rigid. In ten
days or two weeks the celery will be
ready for use and the boards are then
available for use elsewhere. thus keeping
UP q succession.
If banking with earth is to be practiced,
| one of the machines made for that pur-
| ticular purpose will be found of advan-
tage.
| Celery intended for winter market is
! not usually blanched before putting into
storage though 1t is well to Hill it up, to
straighten up the leaves and make the
! plants compact. That intended for late
| fall use will of course need some atten-
| ton as from four to six weeks are re-
ouired to blanch the later crop. For use
| before hard freezing occurs, the blanch-
| ing may be done with boards, but for lat
| er use earth is to be preferred.
| II on well drained soil. the plants may
| he left in the rows till the last Of Novem-
Der. by having some litter at hand to APP