heavy rains; for it will, in such case, materially injure the crop by
covering the hearts of the plants. At the bottom of the trench put some
good, rich, but well-digested compost manure; for, if too fresh, the
Celery will be rank and pipy, or hollow, and will not keep nearly so
long or so well. Dig this manure in, and make the earth fine and light;
then take up the plants from the temporary bed, and set them out
carefully in the bottom of the trenches, six or eight inches
apart."--_Corb._

It is the practice of some cultivators, at the time of setting in the
trenches, to remove all the suckers, to shorten the long roots, and to
cut the leaves off, so that the whole plant shall be about six inches in
length. But the best growers in England have abandoned this method, and
now set the plants, roots and tops, entire.

_Blanching._--"When the plants begin to grow (which they will quickly
do), hoe on each side and between them with a small hoe. As they grow
up, earth their stems; that is, put the earth up against them, but not
too much at a time, and always when the plants are dry; and let the
earth put up be finely broken, and not at all cloddy. While this is
being done, keep the stalks of the outside leaves close up, to prevent
the earth getting between the stems of the outside leaves and inner
ones; for, if it gets there, it checks the plant, and makes the Celery
bad. When the earthing is commenced, take first the edges of the
trenches, working backwards, time after time, till the earth is reached
that was taken from the trenches; and, by this time, the earth against
the plants will be above the level of the land. Then take the earth out
of the middle, till at last the earth against the plants forms a ridge;
and the middle of each interval, a sort of gutter. Earth up very often,
not putting up much at a time, every week a little; and by the last of
September, or beginning of October, it will be blanched sufficient for
use."--_Corb._

Another (more recent) method of cultivation and blanching is to take the
plants from the temporary bed, remove the suckers, and set them with the
roots entire, ten inches apart in the trenches. They are then allowed to
grow until they have attained nearly their full size, when the earth for
blanching is more rapidly applied than in the previous method.

"Many plant on the surface,--that is, marking out the size of the bed on
ground that has been previously trenched; digging in at least s