r 335 S>tatc College of ^Briculture ^t Cornell mniiietsitg Stbata, M. g. 2.t6rarp -^"fe^^A-PRIZE ESSAYS Qelery (^ulture WBITTEN FOR D. LANDRETH ® SONS, SEED GROWERS, PHILADELPHIA^ ^»K;I0:E3, S5 oeistts. PHILADELPHIA !■ ,'■ Press of McCalla &• itave/y, 2J7-g Doek St, ft' jv-ii j'l,' ->* '■.■*- V I. -f 1 I Elf ? .i> /' OTTTZ :E»TJBXJIaufii^.m01^TS mailed free on application to all customers of landreths' seeds. Landreths' Rural Register Almanac and Catalogue in English, German Sedwish or Spanish. The Cabbage Family, its History, Varieties, Qualities and Culture. Value and Culture of Roots for Stock Feeding. Illustrated Catalogue and Priced-List of Implements. Catalogue of Agricultural and Horticultural Books. Catalpgup of Dutch Bulbs, in Season. iJteadjf Sept, Ist, each year.) Prize Essays on Onion Cultre. Prize Essays on Celery Culture. de:sirabl» ^S*.. largest perfect shaped loraiXo in cul- tivation, smoother than the Paragon, does not crack or rot like the Acme, is a darker red than the Perfection ; , —. S ^ ripens even and as early as any good r JH variety, holding its size to the end of ■ itS jKm the season ; very prolific, good flavor, im'KSM ^^^ seeds, flesh solid, bears shipping _ JLaBr ^°"S distances. In Livingston's ong- jfc jJjjmBJ^^ inal papers. Price 25 cents per ^^^^™P^ packet. POTATO, No. 750, Landreths' State of Maine. Very choice. Resulting from the impregnation of the Early Vermont by pollen from the Peer- less the cross combining the desirable features of each of the parents. The tuber over medium size, form slightly elongated, the flesh snow white and crys- taline or mealy, the flavor nutty and unsurpassed. The vine erect in growth with glossy leaf, not attractive to bugs. Tubers spread out in the hill like those of the Early Vermont — medium early. Try it. Price per Bushel ?8 00 " Peck 2 50 " 3 lbs. by mail, post-paid i 25 " , I lb. " " 50 —No. 746— XE"W AND -VERY SUPERIOR. DESCRIPTION. A rare Seedling of Early Vermont hybridized with Excelsior. In form re- sembling the first, and in quality and color the second. Later than the Ver- mont, larger and more productive. Flesh pure white, fine grained and mealy, vines stocky, tubers produced closely about the root and uniformly large. De- cidedly one of the best of the late introductions. As a market variety it is superior to either of its parents or the Snowflake. Price per Barrel (165 lbs net) $8 00 Price per Bushel 4 00 " Peck I 25 " 3 lbs., postage included I 00 " I lb. " " 40 TESTIMONIALS. 1 Marietta, Pa., Sept. 30, 1882. Messrs. D. Landreik 6* Sons, Phila. Gbntlkmen: The GARFIELD POTATOES obtained from you last Spring are the finest Potatoes I have ever seen ; they are as early and equally as productive as the Early Rose, but of much superior quality, being smooth, good shape and size, very white and flaky, and of de- licious flavor. In fact, the Gkrlield is all that could be desired in a Potato, and it is destined to supersede all other sorts. HENRY S. MUSSER. Fort Plain, N. Y., Oct. 2d, 1882. Messrs, D. Landreth <5r* Sons, Phila. Gbntlbmbn : Notwithstanding we had a very dry season, and a very bad year generally for Potatoes, I harvested 180 lbs of first-class Potatoes from the 5 lbs. Landreths* GARFIELD PO- TATOES sent me last Spring. Planted in ordinary good corn ground, with a favorable season, I think they will yield fully aoobushels to the acre. The quality of the Garfield Is first-clss, and you cannot recommend them too highly. Yours respectfully, DEWITT SNYDER. [Copy of Original Circular of June 1st, 1882.] Celery Culture, COMPETITIVE ESSAYS. r~\ LANDRETH & SONS, Seed Growers and Merchants, offer |ioo for the five best essays on Celery Culture, the sum to be di- vided among the authors of the five best articles, in the following propor- tions: JS40, ^25, ^20, Jig and $5. All the Prize Essays will be printed to- gether in pamphlet form. Your are invited to write an Essay of from eight to ten pages of Foolscap - paper, taking up the subject in the order of the following enumeration, omitting nothing and adding any further matter you consider of import- ance. The essay to be transmitted to us not later than 1st August next. ist.— HISTORY of its culture in your locality. 2d. — QUANTITY annually grown. 3d.— VARIETIES grown and merits of each. 4th.— TIME OF SOWING seed and method of sowing. 5th. — PREPARATION of the ground previous to setting out. 6th.— TIME OF SETTING and how done. ' 7th.— METHOD OF CULTIVATION during Summer. 8th.— EARTHING UP, how practiced, gth.- METHOD OF STORING for Winter. loth.— PACKING for Market. nth.— COSTS of the crops. SEEDSMEN, 21 and 23 South Sixth Street, CELERY CULTURE. The list of varieties of Celery below enumerated will be found to include the most desirable sorts. The quality of each sort we believe unexcelled. Celery growers are invited to communicate with us both as respects this spe- cial crop, and general Garden, and Field Supplies. No one in the United States or abroad has facilities superior to ourselves. ». LANDREXH & SONS, Address, Philadelphia. Seed Farmers. •VA-IELIETIES. . 175. LABGB "WHITE. — The most imposing of all varieties, though not as delicate as dwarfer sorts. 176. DWARF WHITB.— More desirable for the private than market- garden. The dwarf character not inducing ready sale. Hearts white and crisp. 177. GOLDEN DWARF. — A showy sort of excellent qualities. Solid, of fine flavor, and a good keeper, and, as its name indicates, possessing, when blanched, a yellowish or golden tint, stamping it as a distinct type and a very desirable addition to the list of rare Celeries. 178. HALF DWARF. — A variety of celebrity among the Market-gar- deners in the vicinity of New York, Philadelphia and Washington. It possesses all the qualities essential to make a perfect Celery ; solidity, never being hollow ; flavor, a peculiar nutty quality ; vigor of growth, dwarf, though producing a weighty bunch. 179. WHITB WALNXTT. — A novelty of merit, both for its intrinsic worth and highly ornamental habit. Dwarf, solid, heavy, of rich walnut flavor, and producing graceful feathery foliage, making it a valuable table decoration. 180. BOSTON MARKET. — A short white variety, much esteemed in the New England States. Unquestionably one of the best, the only sort sold in Boston Markets. 181. SANDRING-HAM DWARF WHITE.— A celebrated English variety of remarkable solidity and fine flavor. 182. RED OR PINK. — A variety fancied by some by reason of its dis- tinctive color and hardiness. Quality good, desirable in the private garden. 187. OBLBRIAO, ORTURNIP-ROOTBD.— (Imported Seed.)— A variety forming a large solid root of edible character. 189. FLAVORING-, for Soups. — Seeds of any common variety. Prices fluctuate. The following arc tbe Prices In Iilst of necember 1st, 18S2 : By Mail. Postpaid at our expense. IN QUANTITIES. Yi lb. or Under over, 4 oz., per lb. per o». CELERY — {See Catalogue f ages ^y and 4S.) Large White Dwarf White Boston Market Sandringham, Dwarf White Golden Dwarf. Crawford's Half Dwarf White Walnut Red or Pink Celeriac, Turnip-Rooted Flavoring Celery (for soup or pickles) . . . 18 93 68 18 18 68 18 18 68 58 So 31 36 76 31 91 76 91 31 16 II B'm.ST s-mzE. CELERY CULTURE. By Alfred E. Craven, of Philadelphia. In that section of New Jersey comprising the coun- ties of Bergen, Passaic, Hudson, Essex and Union, Celery is extensively grown in the market gardens. Close at hand are the markets of the busy manu- facturing cities and towns of the State, and near by the City of New York, easily accessible to the truck- er's teams. The climatic influ-ences and soil of this region are as well adapted to the nature of the plant as anywhere in the country. Cool, moist, refresh- ing winds sweep across much of this locality, moist- ening the atmosphere, so that there is less liability of damage by drought than perhaps is the case at a greater distance from, or at a higher elevation above the level of the sea. There are, however, years when protracted dry weather severely injures it, the most remarkable one being '8i, when the terrible drought caused nearly as complete a failure of the crop as had ever been known. These crops receive the most thorough attention. Much intelligent thought is bestowed upon them, and (5) S ^3^' ^ CELERY CULTURE. practical knowledge and experience acquired by many years of cultivation is necessary to grow it to perfec- tion and make it pay. Under these favorable conditions then, we find cel- ery culture flourishing and profitable, and it Is to de- scribe the method of growing and marketing it in this viciaity that this article is written, as well as to give a hint or two from personal experience of how it may be as successful elsewhere. Formerly, under the old, laborious and expensive method of cultivation, it was not a paying crop ; but within the past twenty years the acreage and profits have increased under the new and improved system of " flat culture," the old method called "trenching" having been discarded. A brief description in way of history, will suffice for the old system, which enlightened gardeners now never follow : The seed was sown in a gentle hot bed in March, and the plants picked out before final transplanting to give them greater strength. In June and July, as needed for successive crops, trenches were dug five feet apart, about six or eight inches deep, twelve or fifteen inches wide. The soil in the bottom was thor- oughly and deeply mixed with manure forked in. The plants were set out in it at distances of eight inches apart in the row. The earthing up, etc., was much the same as now practiced, but, by the new system of storing for winter, much of this heavy work is dispensed with. QUANTITY ANNUALLY GROWN. Statistics are missing to give figures, but the acreage is as large as any other one locality, hundreds of thou- sands of roots being grown. CELERY CULTURE. 7 VARIETIES GROWN AND MERITS OF EACH. Market gardeners generally confine themselves to growing one or two varieties known to be good, the point being to put on the market an article pleasing to the eye, tender, crisp and solid. The dwarf sorts now are more extensively raised than the large, for the reason that in quality they are every way as good and take less field space, besides being easier to work. There is little demand for the red, so the white kinds are almost exclusively grown. I will here name and give a description of varieties grown hereabouts : "Crawford's Half Dwarf" is probably the same variety as known elsewhere as the Incomparable Dwarf. It is a heavy-growing sort, solid, crisp and tender, and when blanched, is of yellow-white color. It keeps well. Is more largely grown in this locality than any other sort. Sandringham is dwarfer than the preceding ; white, the same qualities, except weight, as the Half Dwarf. Large White — one of the best large kinds, heavy, solid, and good flavor. The a,bove-named sorts are the main favorites, and I can attest their merit from personal experience and •observation in growing for market. But the dwarf are far superior to the large, being as fine in quality, and give as much blanched celery to the root as the latter. A gentleman of large experience in growing celery for market, and whose opinion is of weight, says, that two new varieties, recently introduced, are to be highly recommended, and are already largely grown. These are called here the Golden Dwarf and the White Walnut. The first is described as blanching to a CELERY CULTURE. beautiful waxy, golden-yellow color, a half dwarf, a very best keeper, and excellent in every way. Around Newark, N. J., many acres are now being planted with it. The White Walnut is of a walnut-like flavor, a per- fect dwarf, and, out of a lot of twenty kinds, tried on the trial grounds of the gentleman mentioned, was selected as being the best. TIME OF SOWING SEED AND METHOD OF SOWING. There can be no fixed date for sowing, which is- done in perfectly open ground, the time depending upon the state of the season. Usually the ground is fit to receive the seed about April ist. There is no par- ticular hurry to get it in very early, except to let it get the start of the weeds and the benefit of the spring showers. The seed germinates slowly, is the smallest the gardener uses, and the plant, at the beginning of its growth, is a frail, tiny little thing. Any little lumps of earth cast upon seeds or plants at this stage will certainly retard, if not effectually prevent growth. For these reasons the preparation of the ground previous to sowing is done probably in a better manner than for other seeds. The soil should be rich from heavy manuring the previous year, and enough horse dung, thoroughly rotted, spread over the land to the depth of about an inch. Often twice this quantity is put on. The work of preparation and sowing is best done at a time when all will be completed in one day. The manure being spread and got under before the sun has dried it, and the seed being put in while the earth is in that state of moisture in which we find it imme- diately following plowing. CELERY CULTURE. 9 In our practice the plow is made to turn narrow- furrows, as in this way the ground is better fined and broken up. The harrow goes over the field again and again, and is turned on its back to finally give the sur- face a smooth dressing and further pulverize it. The ground is afterwards thoroughly raked with a long- toothed rake ; lumps are thus crushed and rubbish removed from the surface. The rows are marked out with a " marker," an implement used to make several rows of drills at once, parallel and at equal distances. Seed Drills are used to some extent, but many are prejudiced against them, claiming that the seed is not as evenly distributed as when sown by hand. These objections are mainly raised, I think, by those who are ignorant of the merits of drilling machines. My own experience teaches that they are superior to the hand,, not only in speed, but distributing the seed more evenly. There are several manufactured, of different pat- terns, some of which are well adapted to sowing Celery seed. In using machines for this purpose, the cover- ing attachment is removed, no covering being neces- sary. After sowing, the ground is rolled lengthwise of the drills, which firms the seed. The same effect is produced by laying a board over the row and walk- ing on it. About a third larger quantity of seeds are sown than the number of plants required, to allow for failures,, and so that at transplanting weak spindling plants can be discarded, enough " stocky " ones being got to set the space to be covered. An ounce of seed will produce about 5,000 plants, and it will take twenty feet of row to sow it at the proper thickness. The lO CELERY CULTURE. plants as they begin to grow are kept free from weeds. Wheel-boes can be quickly run between the rows to clear the space of weeds and furnish what little culti- vation the plants need previous to transplanting. It is important celery should not be worked or touched while wet with rain or dew. This rule ap- plies to its cultivation in the seed bed, to the earthing process and when storing for winter. Of course, in transplanting it will not apply, that is best done on a rainy day. No earth must be per- mitted to get into the hearts. PREPARATION OF THE GROUND PREVIOUS TO SETTING OUT. The ground having been grossly manured in the spring for the crops of early cabbages, etc., still contains a large percentage of plant food, which is just avail- able to celery at the time of transplanting. In these rich Jersey gardens which are in the highest state of culti- vation an extra manuring is not necessary, for although celery is a rank feeder, there is enough fertilizing matter left from the preceding manuring to grow the crop. When the ground is plowed and harrowed thoroughly; the rows are marked out at the following distances : for the large kinds, five feet apart; for the dwarf, three feet; for that portion of the crop which is to be stored in trenches for winter use, distances are narrowed about a foot, as this Celery will not be earthed up. The rows are best made by stretching two lines across the field, perfectly straight, for neatness and good order are not to be neglected as unnecessary. A stick is drawn along the lines to mark the row, or if the ground is in nice order, the line may be patted with a spade, the impression of the line being left in the soil. CELERY CULTURE.- I I TIME OF SETTING OUT AND HOW DONE. Transplanting may be done in the latter part of June for early crops, but, as Celery is grown in our market gardens as a second crop, it is not put in until the ground is entirely cleared of the preceding crops. The cabbages, etc., are disposed of early in July, and celery planting then begins. With us it is not desirable to forward celery for mar- keting in the fall, because there is not much demand for it until poultry appears in market. About the 15th of July to middle of August is usually the season for planting. The planting may be all done at once, or two or three successive crops put out. At this season there is, as a rule, but little rain, and wet weather is desirable now, for the planting can be not only better done in rainy weather, but the plants need the excess of mois- ture to enable them to take root at this hot season. Every arrangement is made beforehand so that a rain may be taken advantage of. In fact, the whole business requires and should receive much thought and judi- cious management, and all the operations should be conducted in a thoroughly systematic manner. The force must be ready to be called at any time, any extra labor needed having been previously en- gaged. When transplanting time is fixed, the plants have to be pulled and trimmed before they are set out. This is an operation taking time and before planting begins, enough plants must be got ready to start the planters, and the work of trimming must then keep pace with the planting. The plants are carefully pulled, a bunch at a time. I 2 CELERY CULTURE. and by barrow or cart taken to the shed, where we prepare our vegetables for market — here the trimmers cut off the tops and the roots are shortened. The tops are sheared off just above the shoots which grow out of the heart, these central leaves or stalks are not disturbed and are sufficient to keep life in the plant, which can not support much leaf growth until the new roots are formed after transplanting. The main root is merely chipped off a little, and in this con- dition the plant is in convenient shape to set. Boys carry the plants to the planters, to whom they are dropped or handed as needed. The holes are made with a dibble, and about six inches apart in the rows. The plant is taken in the left hand and stuck straight up in the hole ; afterwards the earth is compactly pressed against the roots, so that the plant is firmly fixed in its place. A skillful workman may set from six to eight thousand plants in a day. Speed will depend greatly on the condition of the earth. If wet It is just right. If dry more care and time will be taken in firming. Where the operations are on a large scale it is a good plan to have a foreman superintend the whole work^ notallowinghim todoanyofthemanuallabor. Thework will then proceed with precision and despatch, and wilt be more thoroughly performed If some of the trimmers and planters who may be lazy and careless are watched. Besides those who are unskilled can be instructed. It is Important too, to see that no earth gets Into the hearts of the plants. METHOD OF CULTIVATION. As soon as planting Is finished the gardener can take his vacation, but must not let the weeds get ahead of Tiim. " Hog parsley " a weed of rapid growth. CELERY CULTURE. I 3 "will mat the ground at this season very quickly if allowed a start. The ground should not be tilled deeply until the plants have made some growth. EARTHING UP, HOW PRACTICED. That portion of the crop to be put in market about TMovember and December will have to be banked up to blanch. That to be stored for later and early spring sales need not be banked as it blanches after it as in the trench. The celery will be about a foot high in September, and sufficient earth should be drawn to it to keep the plant straight upright. This is done partly with the plow and hoe ; but finally the earth is packed about each plant with the right hand, the left holding the stalks up at the time. After this " hand- ling " is done, the plants are left to grow two weeks and are then further earthed up. The bank must be made broad at the base, and the sides sloped up nicely so that they will not cake or slide. As the plants grow higher the earth is dug from the centre of the row with a spade, and banked up against the celery. After this is done the celery will be blanched in about four weeks. STORING FOR MARKET. Trenches are dug in dry soil well underdained, or where water does not stand. The trenches are made the width of the spade and as deep as the celery is high. The celery is dug up and packed in an upright position in these trenches. No covering is put on until cold weather sets in. It will stand light frosts. Finally the trench is covered with salt hay or other litter, the earth rounded up along and over the trench. Celery 14 CELERY CULTURE, is Stored away in this way, beginning the last of Octo- ber and finishing by November 15th. The first in is first blanched, the last keeps till February and March. A covering of boards over the litter will keep the rain off; and is to be recommended, PACKING FOR MARKET. If the distance is short and the celery carried in wagons, It can be placed In barrels, the bunches resting on the roots, the tops upright. Some precaution against frost is necessary. Chests are made for pack- ing purposes, and lined with straw. The bunches are carefully protected from bruising by skillful packing. The washing and bunching for market is an opera- tion requiring some practice before it can be accom- plished quickly and properly. The bunches are made either In flat, round, or square shapes, to suit the market to which they are sent. COST OF THE CROP. Here, as a second crop, the cost Is reduced to its lowest minimum. It Is planted and cultivated at a season when other things are not demanding much attention, and the crop fills a gap in the year, when, If not grown the land might be unprofitably idle. But the preparation for market if time is con- sidered, costs nearly as much as the growing. Enough plants maybe sold in planting season, to pay for seed and summer cultivation — that is in some gar- dens. These things taken into consideration, the cost Is probably $200 per acre. CELERY CULTURE IN ILLINOIS. By "Picket." HISTORY OF ITS CULTURE IN THIS LOCALITY. The first attempts at growing Celery in this section of the country, latitude 39° 27', longitude Sg'' 29', were made by old gardeners, and in the old style. This climate being so entirely different from that they were accustomed to, and as they invariably stuck to old methods, their efforts naturally resulted in failure. In consequence, they emphatically declared that celery could not be successfully grown here. Subsequently, there were several spasmodic efforts made by lovers of this esculent, to induce it to grow and thrive with but very poor success. Finally celery was almost entirely dropped from the list of garden requisites, and what little was used was imported from sections more favorably situated. Being lovers of this excellent vegetable, we deter- mined on a series of experiments for the purpose of ascertaining whether it could be grown in our hot, dry climate, and under what conditions, profitably. It is useless to follow our experiments in detail, as they were both long and tedious, suffice It to say, that we have fully demonstrated the fact, that this savory esculent can be grown as large, crisp and delicious, in this as in any other section of the country. (IS) I 6 CELERY CULTURE. We have some obstacles to contend with, which are comparatively unknown in other places, but our expe- rience proves that they can be overcome without great difficulty. QUANTITY ANNUALLY GROWN. Since it has been practically demonstrated that Celery can be grown here, considerable has been planted, and where properly attended to, it has in- variably done well and yielded very fair returns. Of course but a very small area is planted as com- pared with the acres in the Market Gardens of the East; but, considering the fact that none was grown a few years ago, the rapidly increasing quantity now an- nually planted in private and small market gardens, is convincing proof that it will, in a few years, become here a staple vegetable. VARIETIES AND MERITS OF EACH. We have tried about all varieties of any impoptance, and have finally settled on Incomparable Dwarf and Dwarf Crimson as being by far the best of all. We grow but a • small quantity of the Crimson, as com- pared with the other ; though for our own use we con- sider its flavor somewhat superior to that of the white. Those of our customers who have thoroughly tested it, also prefer it, but the majority of consumers stick to the white ; probably because they have never tried the other, and do not care to experiment. We have lately been testing a so-called " Half Dwarf" variety ; and though its praises are sounded far and near, by some seedsmen and gardeners in the East, we fail to distinguish any great difference in its fliavor or vigor of growth. CELERY CULTURE. I/ The two varieties first named have proven so satis- factory to ourselves and customers, that we shall con- tinue to grow them until we are satisfied that we have something better. TIME OF SOWING SEED. We sow Celery seed about the 20th of April in order to get good stocky plants for setting out. The seed bed, 6 feet wide and long as desired, is prepared the previous autumn by stirring sand, sifted coal ashes and fine, well-rotted manure into the soil until it is light and porous, then covering it heavily ■with strong barnyard manure. The strength of this manure is washed into the soil by the fall and winter rains, and in the spring the coarse litter is raked off, the bed dug over with a fork, and the soil raked until it Is as fine as powder. Rows half an inch deep and ten inches apart are marked across the bed, and the seed sown thinly in them. If the weather Is damp the seed is not covered. If dry, the bed is gently patted with a piece of board. Soon as the young plants appear, we cultivate be- tween the rows with a narrow garden rake at least twice a week, weeds or no weeds. When well estab- lished, the plants are thinned to one or two inches apart, and all vacancies. If there be any, filled with the plants pulled out. As they grow, the tops are short- ened in with a pair of shears. This Is repeated two or three times before they are set out. Clipping causes them to grow stocky and prevents them from crowding each other too much in the seed bed. Raking, weed- Inp-, clipping, etc., are all done from each side and with- out stepping on the bed. 1 8 CELERY CULTURE. PREPARATION OF GROUND. Our Celery field is a strip of land having- a gentle incline from one end to the other, it is always plowed in the direction of the slope. Why we selected such a piece will appear farther' on. We always grow Celery as a second crop ; generally after Early Peas, Beets, Onions, Turnips, and some- times Cabbage. The ground always being heavily manured the previous autumn with good barn-yard manure. Early in the spring the ground is plowed about ten inches deep. After the spring crop is removed, the ground is again plowed, bringing the manure which was turned under in the spring, to the surface in the best condition for Celery, well rotted, fine and easily incorporated with the soil. A light top dressing of Peruvian guano is applied and the ground well har- rowed, then smoothed with a smoother, made of-three planks eight feet long joined together by strips nailed across the upper side. It is drawn by two horses, the driver riding on it. The field now being smooth, fine and level as a seed bed, trenches three feet apart are drawn out in the direction of the slope with a marker made for the purpose. It is nine feet long, marks three trenches at a time and is drawn by two horses. The teeth or runners are V shaped, three feet long, twelve inches deep and eight or nine inches wide at the rear end. The driver rides and the trenches when opened are about four inches deep and eight inches wide. This marking is done when we set the plants, and no matter how dry the surface of the ground may be, CELERY CULTURE. I 9 llie soil is always about right to receive the plants at' the bottom of these trenches. TIME OF SETTING AND HOW DONE.' We set the plants the first week in July. Nothing^ IS gained by setting earlier. The work is done on a cloudy day. If none occurs, it is done in evenings from three o'clock until dark. ' The plants are taken up, about half the tops sheared" off and straggling leaves and suckers, if any appear, removed. They are put into a light basket and placed in charge of a boy whose duty it is to drop them just before the setter. The planting is done with a dibble, and the plants* are set six inches apart. ' CULTIVATION DURING SUMMER. The crop is cultivated with an adjustable Vharrow drawn' by one horse. It is run between the rows at least twice a' week.' Gontrafy to the usual custom, the open end of this harrow goes first, and instead of work- ing the earth toward the plants it rather workis it away from thern. 'This is to keep the trenches open. The teeth of this harrow are round and only ^ of an inch in diameter, The rows are also gone over with the hoe occasionally. IRRIGATION. ■ The - chief hindrance to the successful : culture of Celery in ■ this section is heat and drought. ■' The hot Scorching - sduthwest winds which may be expected about the middle of July, sometimes blow at long inter-' vals as late as the 20th of September. Occasioiaailly a 20 CELERY CULTURE. whole season will pass without a single visitation worth speaking of, but we have to be prepared for them whether th^y come or not. These hot south and west winds have to be guarded against, because under their influence moisture disap- pears from the soil as rapidly as from a burning brick kiln and all vegetation comes to a complete standstill. To guard against these injurious winds we used a tight board fence eight feet high until a belt of soft maples eight rows wide, planted for that purpose, reached a sufficient height. They are now 30 feet high and are a perfect protection. At the head or highest end of our Celery field stands a row of tanks each 36 inches wide, 30 inches deep and 1 4 feet long. They are connected at the ends by short tin spouts. They are set on trestles, the first, 20 inches above the ground, the second, two inches lower, and so on to the last. A windmill erected over a large well close by, pumps water into the highest tank, and when full it overflows into the next, and on, until all are full. On the side of each tank, close to the bottom, a one and a half inch hole is bored opposite each row of Celery and tight plugs inserted. When we are visited by Summer drought or one of our native dmooits and the Celery begins to show signs of suffering, the wind- mill is set to work and the tanks filled. At sunset the plugs are knocTced out, the waters gush forth, striking on pieces of board and flow down the Celery trenches. This is repeated the following evening. Every third evening is passed and. the harrow run between the rows. Irrigation is continued while the drought lasts and the Celery invariably makes a splendid growth. CELERY CULTURE. 21 The tanks are made of two inch planks and are painted inside and out, every year with a coat of red lead and oil. Thus treated they will last a life time. EARTHING UP. There is no demand for Celery to speak of, until October, consequently we never hurry the blanching process until near that time. About the loth of September we begin to handle that poi tion of the crop intended for the early market. One man draws t;he loose soil toward the plants with a hoe, another grasps the entire plant with his right hand, holding it straight up and the stalks close together, draws the earth against it with his left, then holding the plant in his left hand packs the earth around it with his right. With a little practice this operation is per- formed very rapidly. A double shovel plow is run be- tween the rows a few times loosening up the soil which is drawn toward the plants as required. The finishing touch is given with the spade, the earth being banked clear to the top of the plants. That part of the crop intended for the winter market is handled same as the other, but is earthed up only with the hoe ; the blanching being done in the trenches in which it is stored for the winter. In handling and earthing up, the main point is to keep the stalks of the plant so close together that no soil can get between them. STORING FOR WINTER. That portion of the crop reserved for sale during the winter is dug about the middle of November, only on dry days. As we are liable to be visited by ia severe cold 22 CELERY CULTURE. snap about that time, we are careful to not get caught, and sometimes get the crop in by the first of the month. Celery will stand quite a frost; but an ice freeze will utterly ruin it. Celery must not be touched while frosted. Let it thaw out and brighten up before hand- ling in the least, A narrow trench, not over 1 2 inches wide, and deep as the Celery is long, is dug right over a tile drain. This insures a dry trench, even in the wettest weather. Into this trench the celery is packed, the roots resting on the bottom, the tops even with the surface of the ground. The trench is filledyS^//, but not packed tight, and left uncovered a few days if the weather will per- mit. We cover with straw and leaves, a few inches at a time to prevent heating. If we are visited by a severe cold snap, the trench is well covered until the weather moderates, then uncover again. By the middle of De- cember, or earlier, if the state of the weather demands it, we have the trench buried under about i8 inches of covering material. No earth is placed on the roots in the trench, as the object is simply to preserve and blanch it, not induce it to grow. A shallow furrow is scooped out on each side of the trench to prevent surface water from run- ning into it. PACKING FOR MARKET. In our market we find that this vegetable, like all others, sells quickest and at best prices when nicely prepared, and attractively displayed. We furnish our own stands. They are about i8 inches wide, twice the length of a root of celery, made of light material, and look neat and clear. The center of the stand is about CELERY CULTURE. 23 8 inches lower than the ends. Two rows of nicely cleaned celery is laid on it, the roots touching in the depression in the center and the tops outward. We have frequently noticed purchasers pass celery that lay in bunches or barrels and buy off our stands at the highest price. That shipped to other towns is nicely packed in nar- row crates, made a little deeper than the celery is long* with tight bottom, top and ends, and slatted sides'. The celery is packed moderately tight, and instructions printed on the crate to " unpack soon as received and return crate." We have never lost any, and have always received the highest price. It always reaches its destination in good conditiop, firm, straight and but the traffic in the article was at first only local. The culture has increased, to supply foreign demand, till now it is an important field crop. A widow wo- man, last year, sowed a few seeds, obtained in a five- cent package, and grew 240 plants, which she sold in November at ten cents each. If I could tell some other one, similarly situated, how to realize in like meas- ure.it would morethanrepaytheeffortof thepen. Three hundred bushels of early potatoes were grown last sea- son on two acres of muck ground, and brought one dollar perbushel; five thousand dozen Celery were set out just before digging the potatoes, and became well rooted in the shade of the potato vines. The Celery sold on the ground for thirty-five cents per dozen wholesale ; was shipped in many directions, and retailed at eight and ten cents per bunch. The Celery brought the grower seventeen hundred and fifty dollars, and the crop cost him less than one hundred dollars as it left his hands. 2. THE BEST SOIL FOR CELERY. Along the southern shore of Lake Erie, in Ohio, Pennsylvania and New York, the receding waters (25) 26 CELERY CULTURE. of Other ages have left a wide tract of soil, which is largely muck and well supplied with moisture, on which good grass grows as the woods are cut away. In the county of Ashtabula, in this State, lies a half- mile wide area on either side of a stream, which, when underdrained, affords muck-bottom land, and on which Celery has been extensively and successfully grown. The annual quantity exceeds one hundred thousand dozen. The best soil for Celery is muck. Sandy loam is also very good but requires heavy fertilizing. A swamp which, when drained, bears good grass and not smart weed, will grow good Celery. Muck that will grow onions or potatoes, will grow an added crop of Celery the same season. On sandy loam the same thing can be done, and on every side of me, as I write, are good growths of Celery in these several kinds of soil. 3. VARIETIES GROWN. In other years the mammoth varieties were grown but are not in use to-day, being supplanted entirely by the dwarf varieties, which ripen earlier, are of finer quality and are grown at less expense. Crawford's Half Dwarf takes the lead, with a good showing of the Early Dwarf, Golden Heart and Boston Market. 4. THE TIME OF SOWING. The large grower sows the seed in beds the first week of April. The seed is very slow to sprout, and previous to sowing, may be soaked in water of a tem- perature of sixty degrees, or better, eighty degrees for twenty-four hours. Drain off and mix with moist, warm earth or sand. If to be sown in rows, mix radish seed with it to mark the rows, and hoe before the Cel- CELERY CULTURE. 2/ cry has sprouted. If sown in beds broadcast, mix with dry sand in the ratio of one to five ; this will facil- itate evenness of distribution. If sown broadcast in beds, transplant at proper season. It will pay. Some growers, handling as much as seventy-five thousand, think they cannot afford to transplant, but one man will transplant five thousand per day with ease; fifteen men will transplant seventy-five thousand in one day, and it will pay big. However, very thrifty plants are some- times obtained on muck beds without transplanting. My neighbor has his muck-field of potatoes surrounded by a ditch with sloping sides two and one-half feet deep. He sowed dry Celery seed on the sloping bank of the ditch April loth; they did not appear for four •weeks, but on July 4th the two ounces of seed had produced plants from which ten thousand were selected, the stronger plants being found at the water's edge, near the bottom of the ditch. Thus, no bed was pre- pared and no care given to the plants. It is advisable to sow the seed immediately near where they are to be set out, so that the roots may not be long exposed during transplanting. If you wish, after digging potatoes, to follow with Celery, sow seed first week of June and have plants ready by August I St; this requires abundant watering. S. PREPARATION OF THE GROUND. An early crop, is usually grown on Celery ground, early potatoes for instance, omitting every third row. The cultivation of the ground for the potatoes is good preparation for Celery. In hoeing, a trench is made at the place of the omitted rows, in which, about July 6th, set a double row of Celery. If the spring crop be CELERY CULTURE. onions, drill them in April, omitting every fifth row, in which set a double row of Celery about July 6th. Sandy loam must be heavily manured for the early crop, thirty- two horse loads per acre, well rotted and mixed with the soil. Double this quantity is not too much. Before you can expect Celery to grow luxuriantly, you must prepare the land thoroughly, and continue heavy manuring as long as Celery is grown. Muck grounds are not manured except by top-dressing after the plants are up. This previous cultivation before Celery must include deep culture. Celery roots demand plenty of room. To-day I walked over a Potato-Celery field where plants were set out four weeks ago, and now, by digging down twelve inches, I find Celery roots fill- ing all the soil. How much deeper they will go in an- other four weeks I cannot say. Get down with your cultivation deeply; carry the manure along and keep weeds out of sight, and, where possible, irrigate. The other day I stood among seventy-five thousand Celery plants, in double rows, and, through the middle of the field ran a water conductor, from which, by means of hose, the grower watered the rows every evening, and the expense was met twice over. Preparation of the ground should always include some plan for providing moisture, especially if in a section where dry weather prevails through August. 6. THE TIME OF SETTING OUT. This varies with different growers from July ist, to Aug. loth, but the first weeks of July gives best results ; the plants have the help of July rains in their new position. August setting must include irrigation by hand. Take the plants from the beds, with spade or trowel, prune both tops and roots, have ready a large CELERY CULTURE. 29 pail of mud, earth, and water stirred to the consistency of cream, in this dip the roots, using only the large strong plants. Drop the plants in the freshly made row, six inches apart. If the ground be in good con- dition, and moist, a good man following the boy will set out eight thousand plants a day, and do it well. One quick movement of the two hands will firm moist earth about the root of a plant lying in the row, and at the same time set it upright. Another brush of the hands will cover this moist earth with loose dry earth to level the ground. But attention is asked at this point to double rows, which are grown at less expense than two single rows. This practice gives good results, as to the quantity of the product, affording place for double the amount on an acre, but of course is never to he undertaken except in ground fully able in richness to bear such a crop. In double rows the plants are set six inches apart, and the two rows six inches distant from^ each other, with four feet between each set of rows. Thus in an acre of 43560 square feet, with equal sides, there is place for fifty-two row spaces, and each single row will contain four hundred and sixteen plants ; a double row eight hundred and thirty-two. 832x52 = 43,264 plants per acre, set as above de- scribed. On muck, two acres, the writer has seen 75,000 Celery plants grown successfully year after year. 7. THE METHOD OF CULTIVATION. The surnmer cultivation consists, first, in keeping every weed, especially small weeds hoed down. It must be apparent that if success demands such enrich- ing there is no strength to be spared to \veeds. Tillage is manure, it is moisture in dry weather, it pays. In tlie so CELERY CULTURE. fifth week after setting out, as soon as any stalks begin to lie down, maintain in an upright position by slight banking ; repeat this twice a week, do not let stalks get down. The sinall grower can keep his stalks upright easily, and this method is earnestly advised. Celery sterns permitted to lie down on the ground in gathering up in Sept. berid at the base, and leave spaces gaping open between the outer edges of the stalks. To avoid this keep the stalks upright with the use of the hoe until time for banking. Celery is a marine plant and the application of salt is beneficial. You can learn better what amount of salt your Celery will use by trial and watching than any other can tell you, here two hundred pouhds per acre is applied. If the ground has been heavily salted for onions, none will be needed for Celery the same season. Never scatter salt along the Celery row; apply only broadcast. 8. EARTHING UP. Celery, which during the summer has had flat culti- vation, must be gathered up about six weeks after set- ting out, and the earth firmed around the stalks without allowing any to get between them ; banking two to four inches high. This causes a new growth of stalks to start, the best for eating. Continue the banking higher, so as to keep these new stalks from the light, the older stalks will bleach at the same time, and with good care, you can have Celery ready for use in twenty days. The large grower must bank rapidly. It is done by compressing the stalks with one hand and crowding earth about them with the other, then firm it with both. Rains will wash this down, and it must be renewed and made higher from time to time. Never CELERY CULTURE. 3 1 bank while the stalks are wet with rain or dew. Only when perfectly dry, and as frequently as you can. The large grower cultivates flat into August, then banks at the rate of five thousand per single day's work, and once again early in September, then covers it from frost in the row or removes it to the trench or other storing place. This work must be well done before it is rapidly done, and pi^actice makes light fingers. Boys must be watched, and better not employed ; the strength of a mature hand is needed. After the first banking, and ' Hew stalks start, one will soon learn to have a few rows "ripe and ready for market every day, until cold weather requires the removal of the plants to'the storing place 9. METHOD OF WINTER STORING. Celery can be stored by burying'in the row where It grew,' by removing to trenches, to boxes in 'the cellan or tb a temporary pit specially prepared for large quan- tities. The first method is considerably practiced with double rows in muck ground, and during warm winters has proved quite successful. The object of any method is to protect from frost, and maintain plant life, for the Celery must continue to grow till it is marketed. It is an easy matter to secure growth in good ground, with sunshine and wind and rain, but with the coming of frost the Celery -must take up its abode in close quarters. If buried in the row it must be where water will not collect, but where good drainage can be relied upon. With the stalks banked their entire length, a few leaves are left as long as possible exposed, but finally these are covered with straw or manure, at first lightly, then heavily, and then very heavily, so. as to shut out hard frost for a long period. This can be 32 CELERY CULTURE. managed so as to allow the Celery to be taken out for use from the under side in very cold weather. This method has risks, you have to guess at things, and you have to hope each night's cold will not freeze the Cel- ery, or a day's warmth smother it under so much cover- ing. Another way is to dig a trench one or two feet wide, as deep as the stalks, and on loose earth scat- tered in the bottom, stand in the Celery as close to- gether as possible, wetting the earth about the roots. Begin to cover with manure and increase with frost. But now the Celery must be watched, every week you must look at it all. If after a time, leaves lose their green color wet the roots without wetting the stalks, and watch out for rust, dark brown spots. Such stalks must be immediately removed and sent to market ; if allowed to remain decay will follow. A large grower here has lost so much Celery by rotting in the trench, that he chooses to risk burying in the row. And so, dif- ferent growers prefer different methods. An amateur had better try all plans. Another method in which the risks are largely removed, is to provide boxes twelve inches deep, fill them half full of good earth, in which set out the Celery, closely packed, the first week of October, and carry the boxes Into the cellar. If there be room enough the cellar can contain many boxes, and many thousand plants. Have the earth moist in the boxes, and watch for the need of water ; get water in at the roots, a little only at a time to promote growth. The stalks will stand high up about the sides of the boxes, and as the nights become cooler the cellar doors must be closed. Carefully pull out any dead or dying stalks, and watch for rust also. In this manner CELERY CULTURE. 33 Celery is easily kept, and the metliod advised for the small operator. The last method is that of a temporary out door cellar, built for the purpose in or near the Celery ground. A sortof pit or dug-out is made on dry upland, 24 feet wide, and as long as needed, each foot in length holding 1 000 Celery plants. Dig the sides straight down, and cover with sixteen foot boards for a roof, meeting over the centre. Provide fine earth in the bottom and set out the Celery just as described for cellar boxes, then water the roots as may be needed. The structure must be made frost proof. Examine the whole stock every week. A storm door is required at the entrance, also a window with shutter to admit light. X. PACKING FOR MARKET. Some growers of my acquaintance arrange to avoid packing, and sell the bleached Celery as it comes from the storing place. One such sold at 35 cents per doz., the purchaser providingcratesat the spot, and the Celery was simply taken up, brushed and laid in the crate, the purchaser attending to the bunching. Bunching is done by puUing off the imperfect and dead leaves, cutting the root three or four sided, so as to pack solid- ly, washing clean and tying up. With roots two inches in diameter, three roots make a bunch of good size. Tie them at the root and top, taking care not to break any stalks. Make your bunches attractive — the short stalks -inside, the long ones outside, and the number of roots increased as they grow smaller, so that the bunches may be of uniform diameter, say six inches or more. Now throw in an extra bunch for every twelve, and send a bakers dozen to market. 34 CELERY CULTURE. >XI. COST OF THE CROP. If I say that Celery has been grown and marketed for one dollar and fifty cents per thousand plants, the explanation must be added that only in rare in- stances of exceeding good fortune has this been done. Where from the seed to the selling, everything was remarkably cheap, labor at twenty-five to forty cents per day, by German women, who had become by long practice expert at the work. The safer figure to give is from fifteen to twenty dollars per thousand, espec- ially for amateur efforts, and while I write distant grow- ers are offering Celery ready for shipment at the station for sixteen dollars per thousand. The reader can estimate for himself how small the margin of profit may be. For the rare instance : One man prepared in one day three muck beds and sowed three dollars worth of seed; it gave 100,000 plants, from which 75,000 were selected. With a boy to scatter the plants in the row and a woman to set them out, fifteen such couples with one man to dig plants from the bed, will set out 75,000 in muck in one day. This has been done repeatedly. Banking is done at the same rate. So that after the second banking the celery has cost less than seventy cents per thousand. A grower who had just sold seventy-five thousand, said to me he did not think the crop had cost him one hundred dollars on his muck ground, and I had reason to believe him. On sandy loam the cost is much greater, and the yield less bulky. Heavy manuring, frequent cultivation and much less rapid handling of plants in such ground, change the figures. From some grounds the writer sees to-day Celery plants, each having fifty stalks by actual count, such thrift of growth takes the lead in the CELERY CULTURE. 35 market and fills the purse, but the average Celery plant only numbers four to eight stalks. When one has by long experience, and the use of proper seed, learned to grow such thrifty plants their relative cost will be small. To prepare a muck field from the rough swamp is sometimes very costly, but on such ground Celery grows luxuriantly with a minimum of cultiva- tion. Plants have been grown for three cents per thousand, and have been set out for fifteen cents, but the average price if one buys plants is two to three dollars per thousand and in other than muck ground, the setting out costs as much more. The amateur must grow Celery one year at least to learn how and to find whether it can be made profitable on his ground and in his market. I'OTTe.th: i>h,ize. CELERY CULTURE IN OHIO. By Clara R. Warren. HISTORY. Comparatively few persons in this part of the coun- try know how to cultivate celery, and the tedious and complicated directions for its culture have been re- peated so often, that many seem to think it an article beyond their reach. But I think we shall soon find this esculent in all the gardens of the land, and as necessary as cabbage or tomatoes seem to us at the present day. VARIETIES. We have cultivated the following varieties and de- scribe them in their order of merit. In this connection I will say, respecting the purchase of seed, that none is so dear in price as that which is cheap. Better pay twenty dollars per pound for reliable seed than receive poor quality as a gift. Dwarf White, yielding crisp, nutty, curly stems; easily grown and handled ; always reliable and sal- able. Golden Dwarf. — Medium size, developing when blanched a golden or amber colored stem — very rich and waxy in appearance. White Walnut. — Foliage much cut or feathery-like, graceful, stalks heavy and of admirable flavor. Crawford's Half Dwarf. — Stalk when blanched of a (36) . CELERY CULTURE. 2)7 yellowish tint and a nutty flavor — character vigorous — producing a heavy bunch. Boston Market, of admirable quality and of a dis- tinct branching habit ; a heavy producer to the acre. Not as compact as most others, therefore not as read- ily bleached, or as convenient for packing when bleached, but a splendid sort, Sandringham Dwarf White. — An excellent variety, solid, compact, reliable. Seymour's Superb White. — ^A fine largfi robust plant. Crimson. — A fine variety, with red or pink stems. It is hardy, crisp, of fine flavor and should be better known. The inexperienced cultivator must guard against piping or hollow stems and premature seeding;, these conditions are natural to poor stocks, but occasionally are freaks of nature met with in patches of the best selected varieties, induced by peculiar climatic influ- ences. TIME OF SOWING. Seed is sown in hot-beds by some as early as the middle of March; others sow in April, while others again sow in cold beds on warm borders as late as the middle of May, Plants grown on open borders are often ready for transplanting as early as those sown under glass. Oftentimes crops under my observation have been more thrifty, and the plants finally larger, when trans- planted from open borders, than when taken from hot-beds, out-door plants not suffering so much by re- moval. Seeds sown in hot-beds should be closely watched, the soil kept moist and shaded from hot sun at time of 38 CELERY CULTURE. vegetation. The sash should be whitewashed and during the day, air given according to the Outside temperature. When the plants are four or five inches high some growers transplant to cold beds, but others omit this process, keeping the plants frequently trimmed down. I have seen crops taken from the hot-bed to the trench as large as any that had been transplanted. Where a large quantity is sown thickly upon a small space, transplanting is certainly necessary, but other- wise, experience teaches us in Ohio it is labor lost. PREPARATION OF LAND. When the plants are large enough for removal to the field, lay out with a plough, furrows or trenches, about one foot deep and four apart. Fill the bottom with well rotted stable manure to the depth of three or four inches, covering it on top to the depth of two inches with pulverized soil. It is not well to have too much manure in the trenches, as it tends to heat the ground and keep the plants dry. The manure should be well rotted, plant food from such being more readily ob- tained, and but little heat developed. Of course, no land should be selected for celery unless very rich and in good tilllage from previous garden-like culture. For early autumn use, field setting should commence by the first of June. The latest plantings should be by the middle of July. A few days before transplant- ing clip off the tops of the plants with a pair of shears to within two and one-half inches of the crown ; this will induce stocky growth and the plants will suffer less under removal. Set them in the trenches about eight CELERY CULTURE. 39 inches apart, requiring the planters to leave each plant firmly-fixed in an upright position. The newly set plants should be well shaded for a few days, as full exposure to the scorching rays of a July sun will certainly check them more or less. Nearly every farm can furnish some sort of appropriate mulching material and its ap- plication will pay. EARTHING UP. IRRIGATION. If irrigation can be pursued, and it is highly desira- ble, water should be frequently applied, keeping the €arth at all times moist, but never for a long period water soaked. The soil should be allowed to become sufficiently dry to permit of frequent cultivation. Six to eight weeks after planting in the field the first earthing up should begin, and it should be frequently repeated, never allowing any leaf-stalks to lay down on the ground. In this latitude we bank up until October, when the earth should have reached the top of the plants. Cel- ery in this section can be left in the field until near the middle of November, provided we do not have un- usual frosts. The longer it can be safely kept standing undisturbed on its own roots the better, as, so long as natural circulation is going on, it is safe from rust or decay. Celery can be successfully blanched in the field between boards by adopting the following pro- cess : Tie up the plants with yarn or other convenient material, and taking commpn boards twelve inches wide place them on opposite sides o'f the row three inches apart — fasten them there with stout pegs driven on the outside of each board. The Celery leaves pro- 40 CELERY CULTURE. jecting out of the top will exclude the light and the stems become white and remain free from rust. • The plan is the same as is pursued in blanchmg" Endive. Sea Kale and Asparagus. Under this system the plants should stand close in the rows, say six inches, and the rows may be closer than where bank- ing is practiced, say three feet. STORING. We store celery in several ways. Sometimes in boxes filled with sand, a laborious process but gener- ally successful, if the boxes be kept In a dry dark cel- lar. Sometimes burying in wide trenches or bfeds and covering with trash or stable manure. The process we find most successful is as follows, but only applicable to small lots. Purchase common earth- enware crocks of five or six gallons capacity, or, if conve- nient, have a potter make earthenware boxes, each four feet long by one and a half feet wide, and one and a half feet deep, and place them in proper positions in a dark dry cellar. Lift the celery from the trenches, removing with each plant all the roots and as much earth as will clingto them, place them, tightly packed, In an upright position in these vessels, with about two inches of water in each; as the water evaporates refill, preserving a depth con- stantly of two Inches. Under this treatment it will bleach beautifully and retain its vigor. b-iftk: i>s,i3e. CELERY CULTURE IN COLORADO. By John Tobias, Denver. I. HISTORY OF ITS CULTURE. Till within the last ten years very little effort was made in this part of the world in Celery culture, but now it is looming into an important horticultural interest. 2. QUANTITY ANNUALLY GROWN. Ten years ago 50,000 was perhaps as much as was grown for this market. During the visits of grass- hoppers many more were planted, but very few mar- keted, such as succeeded got <^5 per dozen. In the last five years the amount planted has been Increased yearly, until in 1881, there were perhaps 200,000 planted, two-thirds of which was marketed, the balance lost from several causes, mostly overheating in the trench. This year shows a very large increase in area devoted to this crop. 3. VARIETIES GROWN AND MERITS OF EACH. First on the list I would place the Golden Dwarf as being of good size, very solid, having the most heart or edible portion, being the best keeper of all I have tried, and selling the best in the market. It will grow thirty inches high and twelve inches in circum- ference, which is large enough even for a western man. (41) 42 CELERY CULTURE. Crawford's Half Dwarf is a stronger grower than the above, and would do to plant out later than the Golden Dwarf. Incomparable Dwarf, White and Bos- ton Market are largely grown, each are solid, well flavored sorts. Sandringham was formerly greatly preferred, but of late years has been very poor, so large a proportion being soft or pithy. London Red is perhaps the best of the red varieties, has a beautiful color when blanched, and good flavor, but the public do not know its merits. The tall varieties of Celery are not grown, taking up too much ground and hav- ing less heart than the dwarf kinds. 4. TIME OF SOWING SEED AND METHOD OF SOWING. Seed should be sown in this latitude about April ist, in a cold frame, or exhausted hot-bed, earlier sowing than this will induce many plants to shoot to seed. The soil should be rich and made very fine. Sow thinly in drills two and a half inches apart, cover fourth of an inch deep and pat down the soil, water with a fine hose, and cover the ground with sacks or blankets to keep the surface moist. Water the bed without removing the blanket, and in about three weeks the plants will begin to appear above ground, when the coverings should be removed. If' the sun is hot the sash should be whitewashed. The surface of the ground should never be allowed to become dry, but should not be watered until it is nearly so. The plants may be allowed to stand four to each inch of row. One ounce of good seed should sow a bed six by twelve feet, and raise five to six thousand plants. When the tops are four inches high shear them off" to about two inches. About the first of June transplant three CELERY CULTURE. 43 inches apart each way in another bed or out of doors in good rich soil well pulverized, shade for a few days and keep well watered. Shade them with a screen made of laths or brush, and placed about a foot above them. If they get too tall before time of settfng out clip the tops off again about one-half their heighth, 5. PREPARATION OF THE GROUND PREVIOUS TO SETTING OUT. The ground should be heavily manured a year or more before planting the Celery for the best results. Plough the ground deep and harrow until in good con- dition. If short of manure, mark off furrows with a plow five feet apart, put in three inches of fine well rotted manure, mix well with the soil with a cultivator or hoe, and a good crop can be raised, but as the Celery roots extend sideways three feet or over on •each side of the row, it is best to have the whole of the ground well manured. Avoid large quantities of fresh green manure, as it has a tendency to cause a rank growth and make the Celery hollow or spongy. Generally our seasons are too short here to practice the eastern method of raising Celery as a second crop. Occasionally successful crops are grown between Early Cabbage planted in rows five feet apart, or a crop of early Radish, Lettuce, Peas or Spinach could be grown first, and, if the season be early, be off" in time to plough the ground and plant the Celery. 6. TIME OF SETTING AND HOW DONE. For early fall use, plant about 15th of June; for main crop July 1st. With good strong plants as late as July loth will do ; but I should not risk it later for this sec- tion. With a single shovel plow, the ground is marked off in straight rows five feet apart. A small stream of 44 CELERY CULTURE. irrigating water Is turned in at the upper end of the row. Plants are set eight inches apart along the edge of the water ; the plants should be well watered a day or two before taking up, and be taken up carefully with a good mass of roots, being careful to set no deeper then they stood in the seed bed. Setting in the afternoon is best, but watered it can be done safely all day. In a few days the water can again be run through the rows, and frequently repeated. 7. METHOD OF CULTIVATION DURING SUMMER. Inside of ten days the plants should be gone over with the hoe, while the soil is moist, and in good con- dition for working, loosening and leveling the soil around the plants, after which stir the soil between the rows with the horse cultivator. Celery thrives best on. rather moist soil ; if not naturally so, It should be fre- quently watered, and the soil kept loose and mellow by the frequent use of the hoe and cultivator. 8. EARTHING UP. HOW PRACTICED. Gather the stems together, and tie them with cotton tying yarn, to keep them in an upright position ; then, with one horse and small turning plow, throw a light furrow to the row on each side. A man that is used to tying up vegetables, will tie up 'celery in less time than he could draw the earth around it with a hoe, or his hands. Another advantage of tying is, in storing it for winter use, it is much easier handled, with less danger of breaking off outside stems ; also keeping the soil from falling into the heart. After the first tying,, it should grow say six inches, which it will do in about two weeks, when It should be again banked up higher with the spade and hands, being careful to leave It CELERY CULTURE. 45 rather open on top, and keeping the soil from falling to the inside of the celery plant. In about two weeks more, it will be ready for a third banking up, using the spade and hands. After loosening the soil between the rows with a plow, banking it up clear to the tops of the leaves. Commence handling, or hilling up celery six to eight weeks before you wish to sell it, except what you want for winter use. To be ready for market during November and December, com- mence hilling middle of September; for use in January and after, commence handling four weeks before trenching, say October ist; this latter it will not be necessary to hill up the third time, unless it is to be left out rather late, say November loth, when it would be safer, on account of heavy frosts to be banked clear tQ the top. 9. METHOD OF STORING FOR WINTER. From October 20th to November loth, is the proper time to trench celery, the later it is put off, the longer the celery will keep in spring, although there is great danger after November i st, of heavy freezing. Light .frosts will not hurt it, but It must not be handled while frozen, or wet with dew or rain. Trenches should be ■ dug on ground where no water will stand in the trench — ten to twelve inches wide, as long as necessary, and as deep as the celery is high, including the roots, if the celery is eighteen inches high (and this is a good length), the trenches will have to be about two feet vdeep to admit the roots, and have a few inches to spare ' on top. Trenches can be partly made with horse and plow, and finished with the spade. To lift the plants, plow down the ridges, from each side of the row, then ■with a sharp spade cut off the root, say four inches 4.6 CELERV CULTURE. long, and pack them in the trench closely but without crowding, keeping them always upright. Lay short pieces of wood across the trench, and on these length- ways, common boards, covered with a few inches of straw; this will do for a week or more. On the approach of hard frost cover with eighteen inches of straw, but delay putting on heavy covering, as late as possible. As celery is damaged, more by being kept too warm than too cold, openings should be made on mild days through the covering, say every three rods, for the purpose of airing. Examinations should be frequently made, and if found to be growing, it is proof of being kept too warm and close. lo. PACKING FOR MARKET. In preparing for market, the outside green leaves should be removed, leaving none but the blanched or edible part, with its green tops, roots nicely trimmed off and washed. Pack in neat round bunches of twelve stalks each, tied tightly at top and bottom. For ship- ping any distance, wrap each stalk separately, in brown straw paper, and pack in boxes with slatted top. Any rusty, or decayed spots on the celery can be quickly re*' moved with a sharp, thin bladed knife, and greatly improves its appearance. II. COSTS OF THE CROP FOR ONE ACRE. Interest on $150 @ lo % $15. Manure, 40 loads @ $2 = J80 #95 00 Plowing, harrowing, and marking, I man and team i day 3 00 Planting, I man 4 days @ $1.50 =: tA, cultivating, I man and horse 3 days %%(> 12 00 Hoeing twice, I man 3 days @ $1.50= $4.50. Handling or tying, I man ro days @ $\.y3^$\i 19 50 Banking, I man 15 days @ 1.50 = $22.50. Trenching, Jio, water and and watering, $6 ; 38 00 13,000 plants, @ Js = i^i- Preparing for market, $40 105 00 Total cost for one acre S'73 00 CELERY CULTURE. 47 Prices here range from 25c. to |2 per dozen, accord- ing to size and quality. Good celery will average eight cents per stalk, or in round numbers j^iooo per acre. The whole of the expense of manure can be covered by raising a spring crop on the ground, be- fore planting the celery. FACTS LEARNED BY EXPERIENCE. That market celery shooting to seed is often caused by too early sowing and planting. That rust is caused by the soil being in contact with mature stalks too long. To meet this case, have prac- ticed tying brown paper eight inches high, around early plant of celery with good results. That it pays to tie a string around the stalks of celery, in preference to holding with the hand while earthing. That it pays to trim off all rust, and damaged por- tions before sending to market. That it pays to purchase the best seed, cost what it may. CELERY CULTURE IN IOWA. By D. C. Lewis. It must be understood at the beginning of this article that the methods of celery culture must vary, as all the other surrounding conditions of the grower varies. No one method should be followed for all parts of the United States. With the fancy grower, for our large Eastern cities, radically different methods should be adopted from that which should be followed by busy Western farmers, who imagine time spent in a garden as wasted, when they behold their thousand acre corn fields spreading out before them, becoming weedy and crying out for culture. The one can adopt and successfully follow fancy methods with profit; the other class must adopt more practical and time-saving methods — those methods which will give the most favorable returns with the least time and labor. The fancy and market grower can have hot-beds and cold frames, and can transplant several times with profit and success. The best methods of culture for both classes is what we desire to know ! TIME OF SOWING. In the Eastern states where the soil is cold and damp, and in the Northern where the seasons are short and springs cold, the seeds should be planted in a hot bed, between ist and middle of April. (48) CELERY CULTURE. 49 The soil for the bed, if not rich of itself, should be made so with well rotted manure or some tried com- mercial fertilizers. I have had splendid success by using Peruvian guano, well raked into the surface of the soil. I prefer Peruvian guano to all other fertilizers I have ever tried if used with judgment. A rich soil for the young plants to grow in is all important. SEEDS ; HOW PLANTED. The seeds should be evenly scattered, and covered over with fine earth, not to exceed one-third inch. Less than one-fourth inch deep I think better, as the plants come up quicker and the seeds are less liable to rot at this depth than when planted deeper; besides, the plants are apt to be more uniform in size, which is quite desirable. After sowing the seeds, press the soil down with the back of a spade, or with some other smooth, hard sub- stance, so as to bring the soil in close contact with the seeds, thereby causing them to germinate sooner. In the absence of frequent showers, keep the soil well moisted, never applying cold water fresh from the well, and at same time being careful not to make the ground "soaky," thereby causing it to bake, or the seed to rot. PLANTS. Moisture with warmth are necessary to induce vege- tation. When the plants are between three and four inches high they should be transplanted to another bed containing rich fine soil. The temperature of this bed should not be kept so high as in the first, thus gradually accustoming the growing plants to a tem- perature the same as that in which they are finally t6 stand. After the plants have been transplanted and 50 CELERY CULTURE. watered, it is beneficial to put a light coating of sand around them, so as to prevent any possible crusting of the soil. SECOND TRANSPLANTING. TIME OF SETTING. When the plants have reached the height of say, eight or ten inches and have become "strong and stocky," they should be transplanted to the field, setting them about five inches apart in the row, and the rows four to four and one-half feet wide, thus giving enough room for earthing up the plants in autumn. HOW PLANTED. Some growers advocate " trench planting," but I must say that I always have had better success in what I shall term " level planting." In the west, where the soil is fine, the trench, however shallow, is apt to gather water during heavy thunder showers, and wash badly. Trench planting certainly has some advantages, it being more convenient for earthing up when the blanching season arrives, but I have better success witt " level planting." Care should be taken never to work the crop when the plants are wet, as this causes them to rust. Up until blanching season frequent hoeing and stirring of the soil about the plants is necessary, in order that the plants shall be large and tender. EARTHING UP. A 7^z<:/ plants may be blanched for early use, before cold weather, and the remainder left for covering later, as early blanching is apt to cause the stalks to rust and decay soon after they are put away for winter. The blanching of the main crop should commence CELERY CULTURE. 5 1 here in Iowa about the 1 5th of September. The follow- ing plan may be followed with success : First, with a "corn cultivator," work the celery the same as cultiva- ting- corn, loosening up the soil between the rows, or in- stead of a corn cultivator, a one-horse stirring plow may be used. After the soil is loosened up, gather up the stalks, press them together, and while in this position draw some soil around them, pressing it down firmly, so as to hold the gathered and compressed stalks in position. After the stems are thus securely fastened, more earth may be drawn up against the plants with a hoe or spade ; or if the crop is large a one-horse plow may be used with profit. Be careful that you do not bank the plants too deeply. The entire leaf, with two or three inches of the tops, should be left exposed and un- covered. It is often profitable to go over the field after the crop is banked, and see that none of the plants are too much covered. If the plants increase in length after the first banking up, throw more earth around them, thus keeping the plants covered to within three inches of the leaves. After the last "banking up," press the soil firmly around the plants, leaving them in this condition until the approach of cold weather. METHOD OF STORING. The most common, as well as most convenient plan is to pack away in narrow trenches. The storing trenches are usually made about a foot wide, and deep enough to receive the entire plants standing erect, the roots being slightly covered with earth at the bottom. Where large quantities of celery are raised, the banks along the sides of the rows are removed with a plough, 52 CELERY CULTURE. the plants lifted and the earth shaken off; and then taken to the trench already prepared for their reception. The winter beds should be made in dry ground, as in such the plants keep much better. When storing- set the plants upright, and close together, continuing in this manner until the trench is filled. The tops of the plants should be about even with the surrounding surface of the soil. After the plants are thus placed in the trences, if the weather remains mild, merely cover with boards; adding hay, straw, or cornstalks as the weather becomes colder, putting on only enough cover- ing to prevent freezing. If any celery is wanted for use, open one end of the trench and take out the required quantity, clos- ing again with a few forksfull of straw. This method of storing celery for winter use is better than packing away in pits and cribs ; it is safer, more convenient and less expensive. CELERY FOR HOME USE. To produce celery for family puposes, we of the west must adopt simpler processes, and the following plan will be found practical and inexpensive; GROWING PLANTS. Instead of the hot-bed, take a large pan, punch the bottom full of small holes ; fill the pan thus prepared with rich fine earth previously heated, to destroy nox- ious weed seeds. Sow the seeds about the same as if planting in a hot-bed. Keep the pan where the earth will be warm. Avoid getting too hot as well as the other extreme. When the days are warm and the sun shining CELEKV CULTURE. 53 brightly, set the pan out of doors, so as to have the plants at all times broken in to out-door atmosphere. When the seeds are first sown, the earth should be artificially moistened' from the top downwards. As soon as the seed has vegetated abandon artificial surface watering, and water the plants by setting the pan in a tub of water (the water being somewhat enrich- ed byalittleliquidmanure^, thus permitting the enriched water to flow in from the bottom, through the holes already spoken of. By this plan the earth can be kept sufficiently moist and will never bake, as is often the case when watered from above; besides, the liquid manure thus applied will give immediate strength to the soil, causing the plants to rapidly push forward. Allow the plants to remain in the pan until they are from Jour to Jive inches high ; then transplant them for the first as well as the last time, setting them where desired to grow. PREPARING GROUND. In preparing the ground in which to transplant, select a place where the soil is rich and light ; not sandy. Dig a small trench, six or seven inches deep, fill in with fine manure to the depth of two inches (hen manure is the best, though other will do if well rotted and not too coarse). Cover over up to surface level with earth, free from lumps, working a little of the manure into the same. SETTING PLANTS. Set the plants five inches by four feet, keeping them well watered until they commence to grow, then per- mit nature to have its own course. 54 CELEKY CULTURE. CULTURE. From this point tend the crop the same as the rest of the garden, being careful not to hoe when the plants are wet. Permit the entire crop to stand un- touched till approach of killing frost. BLANCHING. A few hills may be blanchtd for early use by simply pressing the stalks closely together and hilling up, covering to within two inches of top of plant. How to save the crop and blanch it at the same time: STORING. Prepared with a few barrels, cut into halves, and some dry sand ; pull your plants, leaving considerable dirt on the roots, pack in the half-barrels, filling in around the plants with dry sand as you go along. Pack closely, leaving only about two inches above the sand. After the plants are packed, thoroughly sat- urate the sand with water. Store the half-barrels in a cool, dry room ; no other place will suit. Your work is now done, with the exception that, now and then, water should be sprinkled into the half-bar- rels, never permitting the sand to become dry. Don't be afraid of your celery rotting thus stored ; for it will not. This last mode is an easy process of raising and storing celery, and one that farmers will follow when made acquainted with it. No one need be without a plentiful supply of celery. IMPLEMENTS. 55 IMPLEMENTS. A SELECTION OF THE BEST IMPLEMENTS ADAPTED TO GARDENING. Descriptive Circulars on Application. Price. $6.50. Price, $13, combined. Price, $12. Matthew's Garden Seed Drill and Combined Drill and Cultivator. THE MOST PERFECT DRILI^ IN USE. It is designed to be used in field or garden. When in operation, it opens the furrow, drops the seed accurately at the desired depth, covers it and lightly rolls it, and at the same time marks the next row, all of which is done with mechanical precision, by simply propelling the drill forward- In this way it sows, with an evenness and rapidity impossible for the most skilful hand to do, all the difierent varieties of Beet, Ca/rrot, Onion, Turnvp, Fm-snip, Sage, Spinach, Sorghum, Peas, Beans, Broom Corn, Fodder Corn, etc. lbe's house hoe. Price, .?10. lee's wheel hoe. Price. Lee's Wlieel Hoe cuts the weeds off clean and thoroughly pulverize? the soil. It works between the rows : can be run as close to the rows as de- sired ; more closely than is possible with a double wheel hoe. Lee's Horse Hoe.—h. skilled cultivator with this implement, can cut as close as half an inch off a row of Cabbage, Beets, Corn, or anything else, without throwing the earth on the plants. Crops can he hoed leith this im- plement long hefore other culiivntors can be used. IMPLEMENTS. OOMBTOCK SEED SOWEK. Jr'rice, $». BATEMAN OEU OF THE OASOSN. Price, $6. PLANET JK. SEED DKILL. PriCe, |13. BUHLMAim WHEKL HOE. Price. «5.50. PLAMET FIRE-FLT PLOW. Price, $3. CHAMPION ■WEEDER. Price, $5. LTMAN 8 PATENT WEEDER. Price, 75 cts. EXCELSIOR WEEDER. Piice, 15 cts. DIBBLE. OH PLANTING tRON. Price, Tid ot?. each. IMPLEMENTS. 57 TOMATO HOB. Price, 50 cts. TRANSPLANTING TROWBL. Price. 40 cts. r REVERSIBLE SCUFFLE HOE. Price, 90 cts. batbm-an's hand plow. Iron, $1.25 ; steel, $1.50. .CAST STEEL CELERY HOE. Price, $3.00. CAST STEEL HOE AND RAKE. 6 teeth 55 cts. 4 " 50 •' 8TEEL GARDEN KAKES. 6 teeth 35 cts. 8 ■■ 40 " 10 " 45 " 12 " 50 •' GARDEN KEEL. Ko. 1, $1.00 ; No. 2, 90 cts. : No. 3. 75 cts. ftaicien Lines, 2 cts. Dei- yard. 58 CELERY CULTURE, CHOICE GARDEN SEEDS. We call the particular attention of all discriminating purchasers of seeds to the list of choice varieties named fjelow. For more reaidy reference we attach to their names their serial numbers in the body of our Catalogue, and by the numbers direct the reader's attention to the descriptions:. BEANS— Dwarf German Wax 17 White Valentine 18 Golden Wax 20 Southern Prolific 55 MEET— Landreths' Very Early .... 62 Mangold Golden Tankard ... 84 BROCCOLI— Long Early White 90 CABBAGE— Landreths' Earliest 100 Select Very Early Jersey Wake- field loi Bloomsdale Early Market . . .112 Early Dwarf Flat Dutch . . . .117 Bloomsdale Brunswick .... 120 Bloomsdale Early Drumhead. . 122 Bloomsdale Large Late Flat Dutch 130 Landreths' Large Late Moun- tain . 132 CATtROT— Extra Early Forcing 145 Danvers Half Long 150 CAULIFLOWER— , Extra Early Paris 160 Early Dwarf Erfurt 163 CELERY- Golden Dwarf 177 Crawford's Half Dwarf .... 178 'White Walnut 179 Boston Market 180 COJBA — Extra Early Adams 200 Extra Early Minnesota .... 204 Early Mammoth .... . 213 L.-indreth5' Early Summer Flint.225 Golden Dent 236 COTTON— Ozier Silk 240 CUCUMBEK- LandrethS' Long "White. . . , 253 Jeriey Pickle. : 259 LETTUCE^ Landreths' Forcing 290 Landreths' E-jliest Cutting . . 291 Bloomsdale Rclia^Dle . . • ► , 289 Bloomsdale E.uly Bun'racr . . 298 Landreths' Heat Resisting. . 303 WA TERMELOA — Landreths' Boss . , 310 CANTALOUPE— Extra Early 330 California 342 ONION SEED— Extra Early Bloomsdale Pearl . 365 Bloomsdale Extra Early Red. . 366 Teneriflfe 380 Madeira 389 Silver. White Flat Etna . . . .390 ONION SETS— Extra Early Bloomsdale Pearl . 726 Bloomsdale Crocus 730 Bermuda 73' PARSNIP- Bloomsdale 415 PEAS— Landreths' Extra Early .... 420 American Wonder ... . 428 Hero 456 Sunrise 465 POTATO— Landreths' Garfield . . . . 746 State of Maine 750 RADISH— Short-Topped Earliest White . 500 Earliest Scarlet Erfurt. . . 501 Landreths' White Lady Finger. 512 Market-Gardeners' LongScarlet.514 SPINACH— Bloomsdale SSo TOBACCO— Glessner 573 White Burleigh 586 TOMATO- Livingston's Favorite 602 Paragon . . 605 Livingston's Perfection .... 606 TURNIP- Earliest Bloomsdale Red Top . 625 Lirge Early Red Top. Globe . . 633 Bloomsdale Swede 660 WHEAT— Landreth White Winter .... 807 Defiance, Spring 811 Champlain, Spring 812 OATS— Challenge ,...". 819 ll ,'l ill! ■ ' ^ 1 1 ii I iiiii I Cornell University Library SB 335.L26 Prize essays on celery culture written f 3 1924 003 328 279 5 3* fmti