CELER Y. (Apium graveolens). This much cultivated plant is a half hardy biennial, being killed at about 20° below freezing. It is found wild and growing near the sea, and on the sides of ditches in England. It is esteemed when cultivated for its solid blanched leaf stalks. For the early crop in the North, the seed is sown in a hot bed in March, covered about an eighth of an inch deep, and kept moist until germination takes place. When the plants have made their third or fourth leaf, prick them out, transplant into a sheltered border, or in a cold frame, three inches apart each way, where they will make, fine plants for transferring into trenches, from the twentieth of June to the first of July. Pre pare the trenches by plowing two furrows apart, and as deep as possible, inaking the bottom loose and mellow, and from five to six feet apart between rows. In this throw fully four inches of rich, compost rnanure, working the manure and soil well together. Set the plants in this trench, six or eight inches apart, just at evening; water, and if the sun be hot, shade for a day or two. The subsequent cultivation consists in keeping the stalks growing perfectly upright, by earthing from time to time, being careful not to allow earth to fall into the crown of the plant, or between the stalks. So continue from week to week, earthing as the plants grow. About the middle of September, or from this time to the middle of October, the plants will be blanched ready for use. The rows should be five to six feet apart. For the late crop, to be blanched in winter, sow the seed in a warm border, rather thin, and early in the spring; press the earth .firrn, and sift over a very little light earth, cover with brush just so as not to impede the sun's rays, and vvater lightly to keep the surface moist; or sow in a cold frame about the middle of April.
The plants will be large enough to plant out about the middle of July, in soil made quite rich with compost manure, in rows three feet apart, by ten inches in the row, no trenches being required. All the cultivation needed will be to keep the ground free of weeds, and the stalks growing upright, by earthing up from time to time. In the fall, before the ground freezes hard, the plants must be lifted and placed in trenches for use. To do this, select a dry spot, throw out the soil about twelve inches deep, and three feet wide; in this 'place the celery on their roots, with what earth will adhere in digging. In earthing them up, hold the stalks so no earth can enter between or in the crown. Pack earth firmly about the stalks, nearly to the tops of the leaves, and so one stalk may not come in con tact with another. So proceed, packing row by roiv, until you have the plants all in. A cover ing to shed rain is to be placed over the trench, and sufficient litter thrown over all to protect from frost. Market gardeners form this covering of briuthy poles and hay. In this way the late celery will be ready for use about the first of January, and continue in use often until the middle of May. Boston Market and White Solid are the dwarf white sorts most used; of the dwarf red varieties Cole's Superb Red, is solid and delicate in color, when blanched. Of the large red varieties, the Large Purple Tours, or Red Solid is good; and of the large white sorts, Seymour's Champion is compact and excellent.