Evening Republican, Volume 17, Number 270, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 12 November 1913 — GROWING CROP OF CELERY ON SMALL FARM [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

GROWING CROP OF CELERY ON SMALL FARM

« (By ANNA GALIGHER.) As St rule, late celery makes more growth during the fall months, after the weather gets cool, than at any other time. Iu hot, dry weather celery needs a great deal of attention, for unless tie roots of the plant can be kept cool and wet there will be no growth to speak of. For this reason as well as several others, I prefer to bank the rows with earth as the plants grow. When blanching by this method is out of question, I mulch them with well rotted manure out of the poultry house, and then set broad boards on edge several inches from the plants in either side of the row and fill the space around the plants with hay or dry leaves. Y I like to draw the earth up to the plants as they grow, "because in this way one will have far more white Btalks than when the work of banking is done all at one time. Some people suppose that no matter how large the branches are, the stalks will all turn white after being banked. The truth is, a stalk of celery that has attained its full size before the blanching process begins will remain green, while the heart of the bunch which has grown in darkness will be white. Another reason why-l prefer to use earth is that it protects celery from the early freezes. And then if a covering of dry leaves is put on top of the ridges, and weighted down to preOne year our celery was left ifi the ground until after Christmas, and with additional protection it would have kept much longer. Celery must have air to keep it from rotting, therefore the tips of the branches should never be kept covered over with earth. Anything that is dry and is easily removed, will help to keep out the frost, but dry leaves

is the best material for the purpose that we have ever used. The frost will not penetrate the leaves, if enough are used, and when the sun shines and the" air is mild I rake off the leaves and then replace before sundown. If there are indications of a severe freeze, some old carpet or something of the sort is spread fiver the top of the ridges. I would rather do all of this and be rewarded with crisp, fine-flavored celery, than put it in the cellar and have a lot of tasteless stuff that is only a disappointment at best. No matter how much earth clings to the roots or how careful one is to protect them from the air, whenever the roots are once disturbed the plant loses its fine flavor. Another peculiarity of the plant is this: If the roots are not cut off soon after the plant is taken from the ground much sis the fine flavor will be lost. This is strange but none the less true. v A few light frosts will not Injure growing celery, but a freeze always injures it more or less. Those who grow the self-blanching variety should, if possible, bank with earth for the reasons mentioned above, though it will blanch without being banked, if the rows are close together. The so-called self-blanching celeries are AH inclined to bfe somewhat tough, unless either banker or protected in seme manner. Some people use drain tile and some prefer to wrap paper arouridT the bunches. I have grown very nice celery of the Golden Self-Blanching sort without banking, using hay and leaves as before mentioned, but when cold weather set in, the work of furnishing additional protection took as much time as does the banking up process.,

Boards Set Up Beside the Rows of Celery During the Blanching Period.