Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1917-08-01
DEBORAH COUNTY iowa WEDNESDAY AUGUST 1917
from the seed box to

the fiat.
My choice of a location in the gar
den would be as near the kitchen
door as convenient to get it, so that
any refuse water such as, soapsuds
wash water or even dish water could
be used to water the patch. Let me
warn you here to put no water on the
plants except it be clear water and
that should be put on late in the day
so that it can dry off with the dew
in the morning. The other kinds OF
water mentioned must be poured on
the ground between the rows.
l mention this convenience to wat
er because celery must have an abun-
dance of moisture if it is to grow
fast, and become large and crisp. It
must also have the richest soil OBJ
tailable.
There are other important things
to consider in selecting location for
the patch. A cool place, with good
air drainage. A little shade from a
4 large tree during the heat of the day
is beneficial or little artificial shade
could be provided for such a patch as
l will describe later on. If planted in
the shade of tree or trees, plant far
enough away from the trees so that
the roots of the tree will not absorb
TOO much moisture. These points
Just mentioned as to location, will
naturally suggest to you a north
slope of ground. Just as these ex-
perts here on raising apples would
advise you to choose for an orchard.
Having selected your location, with
fork or spade, spade up the ground
from seven to nine inches deep,
working in all the we'll rotted man
ure you can. Rake and pulverize the
surface fine and let it settle for day
or two. Give another good cultivating
with a garden rake, then it is ready
for the plants. Mark it off in rows ten
inches apart and set the plants ten
inches apart in the rows.
In setting the plants I prefer what
is called dibber, which can be made
by taking round stick of wood about
the thickness of a fork handle and
eight inches long, cutting one end of
| it to blunt point With it I punch
a hole in the ground little deeper
than the roots are supposed to go.
With the plant in the left hand, drop
the roots in the hole to the proper
depth and press the soil firmly against
the roots by inserting the dibber in
the ground at one or two places be-
side the plant.
In lifting the pants from the fiat
one should shake the dirt out of the
roots so as to keep as many of the
long fiberous roots in tact as possible.
If the plant is properly lifted, the
roots will hang to the plant, having
the appearance Of tuft of hair clip
ped from horses name. I believe it
is we'll to pick off some of the outer
leaves or branches.
In setting the plants in this man
ner, the $50 plants in fiat will COW
er approximately one square rod of
ground.
The bed should be kept absolutely
free from weeds and the soil loosened
up after each irrigation or rain so as
not to become hard or crusted. And
if the rows are made perfectly
straight both ways, in three weeks
the celery patch will be perfect
checker board, and the owner will
look upon it with pride.
Some of my reasons for planting
it il this manner are as, follows: it
does not require much space, not
much fertilizer, less water, less spad-
ing of ground, and also the foliage of
the plants will assist in blanching.
Also to hasten the blanching for ear
ly use, it Is we'll to box in a small por-
tion Of the patch by setting boards up
on edge and some boards over on
these, being careful to leave some air
to circulate under the top boards for
If the air is all shut out, especially in
warm weather. the celery will decay.
In this way you can begin using it
in the latter part Of July. What plants
are left in the fall may be lifted with
a spade, leaving some soil on the
roots, and set on the cellar floor,
where I have had it keep till in Feb
ruary.
Pellets of Philosophy.
Take one every dayl