The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-04-01
CELERY IN THE WEST.
How the Relish Is Grown and Made
Ready for the Market.

(from the Kansas City Jourual)
There is but one city in the Omitted States
! that probably handles more celery in car
load lots than Kansas City. and that is
Chicago; and the city by the Kaw is giving
the Windy City strong race for the lead
ership. Only two firms in the city han
die this article and but one exclusively.
| yet these two manage to use for distribu-
tiOn nearly fifteen cars of this succulent
relish every week during its season. The
celery season commences in September and
runs into the middle of March. The early
part of the season Utah furnishes the cell
cry aud later California supplies the bal
ance of il.
c. W. Harris has made study of the
growing and handling of this commodity
and is considered an expert among the
smaller dealers in celery throughout the
States of the South and Southwest where
the larger shipments are made. This city
sends the greater portion of the celery
shipped here TO the Southern States. There
are net more than a dozen cities in the
country which have enough consumption
to warrant shipping it in carload lots.
Great care has to be exercised in the
growing of the plant. The ground must
be moist and easy of irrigation. As the
tops begin to appear it is necessary TO
keep the stems white. Again care must
be taken TO prevent worms getting into
the stalks and also to prevent rafting.
When the stalks are sufficiently grown the
plants are pulled up and tied in punches
of one dozen by many growers, while 9TH
ers ship them in crates which hold from
eight TO twelve punches Of enc dozen each.
As these crates are of one size the dealer
knows the quality of the celery by the
number Of punches contained in a crate;
for instance if there are but eight dozen
of the plants in a crate he knows that they
will be of larger growth than where a
crate contains more, and as size is enc or
the requisites of good celery, this IS one
of the first things noted
After the stalks are gathered and tied
up or Grated they are placed in cars for
transportation. They are shipped in either
refrigerator CT ventilated cars, the former
being preferable. as when shipped in this
manner there is less liability of freezing.
Frost in celery destroys the juices and
makes the plant bitter. From 1,0p0 to
| 500 dozen punches are loaded into a car
and they are shipped just as they are
taken from the ground, roots and all. No
attempt is made TO wash the Pants. as
they will keep better in transit when in
a natural condition and will ripen better.
Upon its arrival in the city the dealer
takes the car at his own risk. and there is
always a loss OF from dozen to leo bunch
Is on each car. The punches are then re-
moved TO the sorting room. where ell wilt
ed or decayed punches are thrown away
The trimmer then cuts of the roots. and
strips of stems that are green or decayed.
All rough and disigured stalks are also
stripped off. but in this there is no loss.
as the plants are always sold by the dozen
This work is always carefully watched. so
that no poor ill-looking celery shall be
sent out. Mr.. Harris gives this work his
personal attention. and watches the hand
ling with great care. From the trimmer
the punches 90 to the washer. who must
be well versed in the different grades of
the product as it is his Gaty while wash
ing out the dirt. to separate the different
qualities. The punches are thrown upon a
long table and an ordinary garden hose
used. As the punches become clean the
washer selects the various grades. and
they are piled by a helper on different
benches. There are four grades conn.
cialiy-the Jumbo, which mas the iars-
est and best bleached stems: this is tied
with blue and red ribbon: the blue rib
bon known also as the fancy" tied with
a blue ribbon: the red ribbon" choice.
with red ribbon, and the white ribbon.
or standard tied Wit: white ribbon.
After the plants are gathered there is
no method of improving the quality. all
though they must be watched very care
fully to prevent deterioration.