The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1902-07-12
THE CULTURE OF CELEk4.
Late Circular Giving Information as to the Planting and
Growth OF the Plant.


A circular on celery culture is the latest
issued by the United States agricultural
department. Prof. w r. Beattie tn charge
Of testing gardens Is the author and dwells
on the fact that celery has only lately 1
come into general use. He states that Ut
tie more than twenty 1--we years $50 tbs /
crop, which now forms such an important
factor IN market gardening interests, was /
cultivated by a few growers only confined 1
20 stil more limited number Of local. |
ties. On the subject Of suitable soil tne !
circular says that the production Of celery |
for domestic use, q rich, mellow, sandy ]
loan win give the best results. The soil |
OF the seeded should contain plenty OF
leaf mold and should be passed through a
sieve not less than six meshes to the inch. !
The soil OF the trangplauting bed need not !
be slltel 50 me. and some welErottcd barn |
yard manure SHOULD replace a part OF Inc
ltai mold in other respects IL should be
the same as thAt OF the seed bed.
ANY fertile, well drained soil VIII grow
celery, but a loose. sandy loan Is prefer
abe; Ia the regions where peat bogs or
much soils abound the crop may be- more
easily produced CA these than on auy other
soil, but the keeping qualities are not SO
good, ana the haVor is never equal to that
on clay soils. if nothing but clear soil g.,
| available, il may he maua to pr0guce good
celery ny the liberal application OF vel
lott~d barn!ard nlanuIcS. ON clay soils
t1crc is liable TO be iuiury caused by the
son becoming washed into the hearts OF
the plants While they are yet small.
METHODS OF SOWING SEED.
Prof Bcattie SAYS: The first aud most
| important consideration when preparing TO
1 grow a crop of celery is the securing OF
! good seed. not merely seed Of which a
| large percentages Will germiuate, but that
| having strength and yigur sufficient to give
/ the Seeding q good start As tae seeds of
! celery are very small. II may be necessary
! tA1t small percentage OF the numbvr
/ usually sown should sctually grow In or
der 10 secure au Abundance OF
/ plants but. as low termination aud
Z jlc necessary visor are seldom leo TO be-
! found in tie same packet ii seed, thai
] having high percentage Of termination
! BIS preferable. celery seed, iRe that OF
/ parsley, carrot, aud puIsnlr, parts Win
| ltf vitality very quickly auG IS pfac icaily
/ worthless when kept over a1tl the second
/ year. In addition To the above qualities,
| zoe seed should be from selected stock ana
+, true 10 name. Place your order for seed
/ early. before the supply Of the best grade
I is exhausted, and there viii be little difn.
! Guilty IN getting coed seed Purchase from
| q scotsman VINO expects to sell TO you
again the following year, PAN the highest
price II necessary, and demand the best.
MANNER OF WATERING.
In regard TO applying water the circular
says. No DEFINITE rules can be given
FOR the application Of water TO a grow
ins crop Of celery as the requirements
vary with the character OF the soil atlnos
pheric conditions ana temperature Its be.
ing a marsh plant iu its native habitat.
however, indicates that it will suffer less
from too mucn wafer Than from dronta
The cost Of application should determine
largely ihc extent Ia which water should
be used, ana as rule II is not profitable
70 give more than three w3terncs IL adal-
lion 10 the one given at the time thc
plants are SET IN the held. Where celery
Is 10 he grown on q large scale IL viii he
desirable, where natural water supply
can not be brought Into service TO proyIda
I pumping machinery and 20 give the soil
two or three good soakings during the
season. especially 10 the absence Of heavy
rains Celery requires the most water
I while making rs greatest growth. when
occurs late IN he summer As the crop dp-
proacheS maturity the water should he
applied sparnsLy, and it shSlld I've VITA
lela altogether tor some time before
Among the methods Of applying tne
water, the most simple ana usually the
most desirable, especially where The sur
FACE Of the soil is even is 20 run the water
along the rows by means ~ sman fur.
rovs, eight or ten inchts distant on
either side o. the row. Ihis method IS
vel adapted 90 use on r gentle s!t @ with
the rows running up and down the incline.
WHEN TO PLANT.
II possible. the planting should be done
when the soil Is rather moist and the at.
mospheric conditions suitable 10 the suo.
sistence Of the plants until the root can
again furnish sufficient moisture 10 supply
them. The plant he'd should he thorouchlr
watered few hours before the piants are
I removed, and knife OF t:owel should be
run between the plants that they may
he lifted with clump 81 eSrth and with
NEST of their roots attached. Marx otr
the rows with wheel hoe a hand hoe and
line or horse marker Place the plants
IN a shallow tray and set IN the ground
from the tray, or have them distributed ny
hoys ahead ~ the planters. Wnen the
plants are set and the soil well pressed
down around them, they should he Just n
l'ttie below the general level OF the soil,
but not low enough TO become covered ~
! heavy rains. Inc same method ea'1kd
ne followed when setting In beds except as
70 marking, which should he IN both a.
/ rections the plants 10 he set al the IN
tersectons. il no mulch Is 10 he appnfn,
the plants should be watercd before the
soil is entirely nned in around them; then,
after watering cover the wet earth with
, the dry 10 prevent a crust being formed,
METHOD or BLANCHlNG
In Its original via state the Stems oI
celery are tough, fun Of woody strands, OF
rank favor and green in color. being
similar to the outside stems OF trimmings
Of our present varieties. The object o:
banching Is 20 secure lear stalks rec
from woody strands, crisp and tender ana
without the rank uavor found IN those
that are green. OF the cultivated plant
Z We have two Glasses Of varieties. the large
growing or giant ana the dwarf, rhcse
are sgsin divided into those which must No
hlnnched by excluding the light and those
! ! which are IN measure self-hlanchine.
+ OF the former the Giant Pascal is R type
and OF the later Golden self Blanching rs
. l a good Illustration.
I Blanchlpg is accomplished by the same
, ! general method as IS employed for destroy
ing the coloring matter In any plant It's
Sne--that Is. by excluding the Night az
, allowing the growth 10 proceed IN me
dark The particular method to he ADOPT
ed must he determined largely by the lime
p when the crop Is 70 be used. II for early
use or marketing. the blanching must be
completed where the plants are grown
nut II the celery he FOR winter use the
hlarching may take place after the crop
has been removed from the neld ana pot