The Clio messenger., 1914-10-16
(By ANNA GALIGHER.) }

(By ANNA GALIGHER)
Last year we had the finest celery
ever seen in this part Of the country
and here is how 1t was grown:
The plants were grown in very rich
soil and thinned so that none were
small and spindling. No weeds were
allowed to grow among the plants.
After the plants were four or five
inches high the tops were shorn Off.
so as to cause plants to grow stalky.
During the dry weather we gave the
plants drink every evening, soaking
the ground we'll every time.
The tips of the leaves were shorn
off again, about two weeks after the
first shearing.
In doing this, there Is always dan
ger Of injuring the plants unless one
is very careful. If too many of the
leaves are cut off, the plants will be
stunted and thereby rendered worth
less.
None of the young or inner leaves
should be pruned, and only the upper
portions of the outer ones.
All this may seem to be great
deal of unnecessary work, but those
who have grown celery know that 1t is
time wasted to set out small, sickly
plants. Experienced growers also
know that good celery cannot be
grown without more or less hard work.
We grow ours for home use only and
always as a second crop where early
potatoes have been grown.
Late celery can be set out any time
from July to September, with good
results. Ours was transplanted last
year in early September. when the
drought had just been broken by a
heavy shower.
After the ground was thoroughly
spaded, the plants were set In double
rows about one foot apart.
The advantage in the double rows Is
that when drawing the earth up to
blanch, two rows can be handled just
as easily as one.
Our celery is never set in trenches
for two good reasons: The soil here
is not very deep, and when the plants
are set In trenches, the latter have to
be made quite deep and then partly
filled with rich soil so that the roots
will have something to feed on.
The other reason for background
culture Is this When plants are in
trench they are liable to be covered
with water every time there Is a heavy
rain. 1t takes a lot Of work to rescue
the submerged plants.
Celery that is tough and stringy
Is very poor eating, and unless there
is plenty Of plant food in the soil and
also plenty of moisture, the stalk will
be full of strings, and hollow as we'll.
To be at its best, celery should be
grown quickly. To promote rapid
growth, keep the roots cool and damp
Late planting is conducive to rapid
growth, because no mulching with
straw Is needed in the fall to keep the
soil cool and moist around the roots.
After the plants got well started
they were hoed and then the entire
surface Of the ground around the
plants was covered with manure from
the poultry houses.
After this nothing more was done
with the soil or plants for about two
weeks. In the meantime there had
been several soaking rains, which was
exactly what we wanted, for without II
the top dressing would not have bene
fitted the plants.
The soil was loosened around the
plants with a hoe once more and ther
the soil was gradually drawn around
the plants.
They were growing by this time
Every few days a little more earth
was packed around the plants. care be
ing taken that the stalks were all in
proper position and always allowing
plenty Of room for growth.
They grew very fast after the ridg
ing or banking process was once be-
gun.
Some growers do not begin to blanch
their celery until It is nearly full size
and the result Is there are more green
stalks than any other kind.
When celery stalk grows green. II
grows green for keeps; no amount OF
labor will induce It to turn white.
We had the White Plume last year
and It was white, indeed, and very
crisp; but the process would have been
the same with any other variety, and
doubtless the results would have been
similar
When blanching celery, It should not
be disturbed when either the celery or
the soil Is wet, because 1t will cause
| the stalks to rust and rot.
II is q very good plan to tie paper
loosely around the plants before the