Fort Pierce news. (Fort Pierce, Fla.) 190?-1920, 1908-11-20
CARE OF CELERY SEED BEDS
Florida Agricultural Experiment
Station Bulletin, No. 100.

| ~'Os iVNs
Most of us are familiar with the
value of healthy, vigorous, we'll formed
plants to produce large crop; but we
frequently overlook the importa OF
having healthy, vigorous seedlings
from which TO grow such plants. 10
is as difficult to grow vigorous, we'll
formedS plant from stunted, half
formed seeding, as it is to grow a we'll
developed beef animal from a runty,
half starved calf. Especially is this
true with celery, for it a slow grower
and requires care and pushing to prod
uce vigorous healty plant for setting.
The young plants remain in the seed
bed from FIVE to six weeks according to
their growth. During this time the
ground between the rows should be
kept loose and free from grass aud
weeds. Should the seedlings become
yellow or somewhat checked in growth
solution Of one pound of nitrate of
soda to ten gallons of water may be
sprinkled on to advantage.
Nitrate Of soda solutions should be
used with care, for strong solution or
even large quantities of a weak one
would injure the roots, thereby causing
stunting which would be difficult to
remedy. The solution of one pound in
ten gallons Of water may be safely APP
piled at the rate of half gallon to
the square yard of seed-bed. A large
watering-pot fitted with a finely-perfor-
ated nozzle will be found convenient
for applying the solution.
Almost every trucker who has grown
celery has had trouble with damping
off in the seed bed and it is safe to say
that nine out of ten serious cases occur
on beds that have been given TOO much
water, or that have not been sufficient
ly drained to carry off the rain water.
Should the beds become infected with
the damping off fungus, the disease
may be checked by keeping the soil
loose, and by sprinkling ligh applica-
ton of slaked lime or sulphur on the
soil near the plants.
TRANSATLANTIC
When the seedlings have reached an
| inch and half to two inches in height
and have formed three or four leaves,
the must vigorous plants may be trans
planted to bed near by, where they
will be given more room, being set
an inch apart each way. These beds
may be about six feet wide and pro-
yided with paths so that the workers
can reach the ground between the
plants to keep it loose and free from
weeds, Though this practice Of trans
ferring TO the "prick bed'' is no longer
general custom among celery grow
ers, there is difference of opinion
among the best growers as 10 whether
it pays or not. The practice OF most
growers is that of planting much
larger seed bed than will be needed,
and picking out the best plants Tor
setting in the field. When celery
plants become overgrown or crowded
in the seed bed, or are allowed to re-
main too long before setting 10 the field
they undergo check that is difficult
to overcome in the field. This seed
beed stunning often causes the plants to
go to seed before they are ready for
market. Should the plants have ten
dency to become splndly, 1t may be cor
rected somewhat by cutting back the
leaves. When the celery plants have
/ reached height of six inches and have
from four to six healthy leaves, they
may be taken up for planting in the
) field. Only the healthiest and most
vigorous plants should be set out.
r. Y. WINTERS. I,