The Garden. CELERY CULTURE IN AMERICA. HE following article by Mr Peter Hen- germinate, so that the rows can be traced, hoe lightly between the rows, and begin to pull out the weeds as soon as they can be seen. One day's work, at the proper time, will be better than a dozen after the seed-bed gets enveloped with weeds, besides ensuring much finer plants. York, will between rows, and derson, South Bergen, New York, will be found to differ in many particulars from the modes of Celery Culture practised in Great Britain, and we would especially direct attention to "The preparation of the soil and planting of celery for winter use," as being worthy of trial in course of the present autumn. I know no vegetable on the cultivation of which there is so much useless labour expended with such unsatisfactory results as celery. Almost all private cultivators still think it necessary to dig out trenches, from 6 to 12 inches deep, involving great labour and expense, and giving a very inferior crop to that planted on the level surface, in the manner practised on hundreds of acres by the market gardeners in the vicinity of New York. As the plants advance in growth, the tops are shorn off generally twice before the time of setting out, so as to induce a stocky growth; plants, thus treated, suffer less on being transplanted. Celery may be planted any time from middle of June to middle of August; but the time we most prefer is during July, as there is but little gained by attempting it early. In fact, I have often seen plants raised in hotbeds and planted out in June, far surpassed both in size and quality by those raised in the Our manner of treating the celery crop, of open ground a month later. Celery is a plant late years, is very much simplified. Instead requiring a cool moist atmosphere, and it is of sowing the seed in a hot-bed or cold frame, nonsense to attempt to grow it early in our as formerly, it is sown in the open ground as hot and dry climate; and even when grown soon as the ground is fit to work in spring it is not a vegetable that is ever very palatable here about first week in April-on a level until cool weather. This our market experipiece of rich mellow soil, that has been ence well proves, for although we always have specially prepared by thorough pulverising a few bunches exposed for sale in August and and mixing with short stable manure. The September, there is not one root sold then bed being fined down by raking, so that it is for a thousand that are sold in October and clear of stones and all inequalities, lines are November. Celery is always grown as a drawn out by the "marker," 8 or 9 inches "second crop" by us—that is, it follows after apart, in beds of 8 rows in a bed, rubbing the spring crop of beets, onions, cabbage, out every 9th line for an alley, on which to cauliflower, or peas, which are cleared off walk when weeding, &c. The seed should and marketed, at latest by middle of July; be sown rather thinly, one ounce being suffi- the ground is then thoroughly ploughed and cient for every 20 feet in length of such a harrowed. No additional manure is used, as bed. After sowing, the bed should be rolled, enough remains in the ground, from the heavy or patted down with a spade, which will give coat it has received in the spring, to carry the seed sufficient covering. through the crop of celery. After the ground As soon as the seeds of celery begin to has been nicely prepared, lines are struck out on the level surface, 3 feet apart, and the plants set 6 inches apart in the rows. If the weather is dry at the time of planting, great care should be taken that the roots are properly "firmed." Our custom is, to turn back on the row, and press by the side of each plant gently with the foot. This compacts the soil and partially excludes the air from the root until new rootlets are formed, which will usually be in forty-eight hours, after which all danger is over. This practice of pressing the soil closely around the roots is essential in planting of all kinds, and millions of plants are annually destroyed by its omission. After the planting of the celery is completed, nothing further is to be done for six or seven weeks, except running through between the rows with the cultivator or hoe, and freeing the plants of weeds until they get strong enough to crowd them down. This will bring us to about the middle of August, by which time we usually have that moist and cool atmosphere essential to the growth of celery. Then we begin the earthing up, necessary for blanching or whitening that which is wanted for use during the months of September, October, and November. The first operation is that of "handling," as we term it, that is, after the soil has been drawn up against the plant with the hoe, it is further drawn close around each plant by the hand, firm enough to keep the leaves in an upright position and prevent them from spreading, which will leave them as shewn in fig. 1. This being done, more soil is drawn against the row (either by the plough or hoe, as circumstances require), so as to keep the plant in this upright position. The blanching process must, however, be finished by the spade, which is done by digging the soil from between the rows and banking it clear to the top on each side of the row of celery, as in fig. 2. Three feet is ample distance between the dwarf varieties, but when "Seymour's Superb," "Giant," or other large sorts are used, the width between the rows must be at least 4 or 5 feet, which entails much more labour and loss of ground. For the past eight years I have grown none but the dwarf varieties, and have saved in consequence at least one-half in labour, and one third in ground, while the average price per root in the market, has been always equal and occasionally higher than for the tall growing sorts. My neighbours around me have at last got their eyes opened to the value of the dwarf sorts; and I think that a few years more will suffice to throw the large and coarse-flavoured sorts, such as "Seymour's Superb" and "Giant," out of our markets. The preparation of the soil and planting of celery for winter use is the same in all respects, except that, what is intended for winter need never be "banked up" with the spade. It merely requires to be put through the handling process, to put it in a compact and upright position preparatory to being stowed away in winter quarters. This should not be done before the middle of September, or just long enough before the celery is dug up, to keep it in the upright position. We have, however, another method which we have found to answer very well for the late crop, and it is one by which more roots can be grown on the same space, and with less labour than by any other. It is simply to plant the celery 1 foot apart, each way, nothing further being required after planting, except twice or thrice hoeing to clear the crop of weeds until it grows enough to cover the ground. No handling or earthing up is required by this method, for, as the plants struggle for light, they naturally assume an upright position, the leaves all assuming the perpendicular instead of the horizontal, which is the condition essential before being put in winter quarters. This method is not quite so general with us as planting in rows, and it is perhaps better adapted for private gardens than for market; as the plant is more excluded from the air, the root hardly attains as much thickness as by the other plan. Our manner of preserving it during winter is now very simple, but as the knowledge of the process is yet quite local, being confined almost exclusively to the Jersey market gardeners, I will endeavour to put it plain enough, so that my readers "may go and do likewise." In this locality we begin to dig up that which we intend for winter use about degrees will destroy it. Hence, experience tops being on a level with [the top of the has taught us, that the sharp frosts that we trench. Figure 3 represents a section across usually have during the early part of Novem- a trench filled with celery in the manner just ber rarely hurt it, though often causing it to described. No earth whatever is put to the droop flat on the ground, until thawed out by roots other than what may adhere to them the sun. It must, however, never be touched after being dug up. It being closely packed when in the frozen state, or it is almost cer- together, there is moisture enough always at per acre. the last (which we try always to defer to 15th But for the last six or eight years, or 20th November) may be used during the by adopting the flat culture, and the drain or winter and until the 1st of April. For the trench system for winter storage, it has done first lot no covering is required, but that for much better, and is now a very profitable use during the winter months must be gradu- "second crop," averaging a clear profit of ally covered up, from the middle of Decem- $300 per acre, though it rarely brings over ber on until 1st of January, when it will re- $3 per 100 roots. No doubt, in many parts quire at least a foot of covering of some light, of the country, it would be much more prodry material-hay, straw, or leaves-the lat- fitable than in the crowded markets of New ter perhaps the best. I have said the cover- York. It is shipped from here in all direcing up should be gradual. This is very impor- tions to Philadelphia (largely), Baltimore and tant, for if the full weight of covering is put Washington (South), and to Newport, Proon at once, it prevents the passing off of the vidence, Hartford, and New Haven (East). It heat generated by the closely packed mass of is a bulky and expensive article to ship, and celery, and in consequence it to some extent the dealer must realize more than double on "heats," and decay takes place. Covered the purchase or it will not pay his risk. It up in this manner it can be got out with ease, during the coldest weather in winter, and with perfect safety. These dates of operations, like all others named throughout, are for this latitude; the cultivator must use his judgment carefully in this matter, to suit the section in which he is located. Regarding the profits of this crop I can speak from a very extensive experience, in its culture, having cultivated an average of ten acres for the past eighteen years. For many years, in the early part of that time, it was by no means what we would now call a profitable crop. By persisting in raising the large growing sorts, and the awkward and expensive mode we had then of working it, we were satisfied if it gave us a profit of $50 or $75 must thus cost the consumer, in these towns to which we send it, 8 or 10 cents a head, a price at which it would pay a clear profit of $1000, or $1500 per acre. If the awkward and laborious system of cultivation, still persisted in for the growing of celery, is a mistake, the continued use of the tall growing and coarse varieties, we believe to be even a far greater one. The kinds that should be grown, either for private or market use, are very limited. "Incomparable Dwarf."-This, so far, is decidedly our best variety; under good cultivation it attains a height of 2 feet, and a circumference of 12 inches; it is perfectly solid, the stalks half round, the leaves and stems being rather light green. When blanched, it is a yellowish-white, crisp, tender, and of a most agreeable nutty flavour. The great advantage of this, and other dwarf sorts, over the large kinds, is, that nearly every part of the plant is fit to eat when blanched; for instance, if in the dwarf varieties the length is only 2 feet, and in large sorts 3 feet, the extra length of the large sort is unfit for use, being usually only an elongation of the outer leaves, the heart or edible part rarely rising more than 18 inches in the farge sorts, while the dwarf sorts may be said to be all heart. This variety, for fall use, is planted 3 feet between the rows, by 6 inches between the plants, or nearly 27,000 roots per acre. For winter use, when it does not require to be "banked," we plant 2 feet between rows, and 6 inches between plants, or about 40,000 roots per acre. "Boston Market."—A variety very similar to the above, but rather more robust, though a dwarf variety; the leaves are darker green, the stalks when blanched nearly white; it is solid, crisp, and tender; an excellent variety. "Dwarf Red."-A variety similar in all respects to the "Incomparable Dwarf," except in colour of the stalks, which are of a rosy crimson; although the flavour of the red varieties of celery is acknowledged to be superior to the white, and the appearance, when blanched certainly far richer, yet, for some unexplained reason, they do not so readily sell in our markets. In the London markets, about equal quantities of each are sold. "Seymour's Superb."-The best of the large-growing sorts, attaining a height, under good culture, of 3 feet. It should never be planted closer than 4 feet between the rows, or it cannot be worked properly. For southern sections of the country, this variety is more suitable than the dwarfs, as it grows freer in a hot and dry atmosphere. AUTUMN SOWING IN THE KITCHEN GARDEN. HE autumn sowing of certain culinary crops for use in spring or early summer, and of a few annual flowers which are intended for early blooming, is very generally practised in gardens; but seed sowing in autumn might be advantageously performed to a far greater extent than is usually done, either by gardeners or others. Where succession crops or displays of floral beauty are desiderated, then succession sowings at different periods must be made; but where the mere rearing or multiplying of plants from seed is the object in view, a safe rule is to follow nature by sowing the seeds of native and acclimatized plants at those times or seasons when they are naturally dispersed, but which, it must be remembered, is not in all cases coincident with their ripening. Thus, the seeds of groundsel are blown off and scattered about almost as soon as they attain to maturity; but those of the Scotch fir, although ripened in autumn, remain clasped by the close adhering cone-scales till these are opened, and the seed liberated by the drought and sunshine of early spring. Seeds which, if sown when newly ripened, will, under the favourable influences of moisture and warmth, vegetate in a short time, are more numerous in some kinds than others, and they are in greater proportion among annuals and biennials than among plants of longer duration; but among them, many will lie in the ground for a year or even more, if they are dried and hardened by long keeping before they are sown; and there are also a few kinds which will entirely perish if the sowing of them is delayed till the first spring after they are ripened. Next, in point of numbers, are those kinds of seeds which, although sown as soon as they are ripened, do not vegetate till the succeeding spring, and a considerable number of which, if not sown till |