The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1916-06-15

idea. but is in common and successful
practice in the vicinity of all large
cities. 1t is plan that may be put in
force ON almost any farm, no matter
how far it is from a market. Many
of these paying vegetables do not re
quire quick marketing, but the farmer
can take them to the shipping station
or his customers at regular intervals.
A daily trip is not necessary unless
production is on a large scale. Once
or twice a week will do for these jour-
neys to town. If located near enough
to a city so that private trade in
garden supplies can be worked up it
will pay the farmer to give regular
daily attention to this branch of his
business.
Every progressive man and woman
in the country. understands that the
marketing end of farming is just as
important as production, and with
present facilities for sending goods by
mail and express it is quite feasible to
have a number Of city customers who
will take fresh garden supplies regu-
larly and thus assist in making the
farm pay Celery cannot be success
fully grown without moisture, especial
ly at the time of setting out. Producers
should be prepared to irrigate the crop
in dry periods. The extra profits will
pay for this additional work. Incl
dentally 1 may say that some cheap
plan Of irrigation would pay on almost
any farm, certainly in any large gar
den.
Celery plants for commercial crops
are pulled and most Of the dirt shaken
from the roots. The roots are then
well puddled in rather thick mud, plac-
ed in boxes and carried to the garden.
Dibbles are used in setting, care being
taken to see that the soil is well firm
ed around the roots and the plants set
no deeper than they grew in flats. Aft
err the plants have started to grow the
rows are gone over with two whSel
ed hand cultivatOr having the disks
or small plows set to throw the soil
away from the rows. The crust is
broken up between the plants with
weeders or narrow hoes, at the same
time uncovering those plants which
were set too deep. The field is then
cultivate to maintain a fine soil mulch
two or three inches deep. No dirt is
thrown against the celery during warm
weather, as it is likely to cause the
stems to rust. The plant should be
sprayed with bordeaux two or three
times before setting in the field and
about every two weeks thereafter.
Care must be taken that the hand
cultivator in throwing soil away from
the row does not disturb the plants or
leave them too bare. Common methods
for blanching must be observed.
Many expert growers of celery apply
from 600 to 800 pounds of salt annually
to each acre of !and. A part Of this Is
broadcast over the land in the spring
and is narrowed lightly into the soil
week or so before setting the first crop
Of plants. While the crop is growing
a second application of salt may be
made. This method is advised whether
the land is used to grow more than one
crop Of celery in season or not.
Growers say that sailing makes the
plants more brittle and tender, besides
adding something to their flavor. In
localities where there is plenty of aka
line salts in the soil it is unnecessary
to adopt this practice.
While urging farmers to take up
these money making plans, l wish to
impress on their minds that each land
owner has his own peculiar problems
to study out. All farmers cannot go
extensively into garden crops for rea-
sons which are plain enough, but
great majority of them should do
something with garden supplies for the
city trade.