I i i
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rilACTICE OF GARDENING R zVr t h t . Book IH. MUSTARD. 809
Iho V.n-iety called the celoriac is used, chieliy in soup. A cheap and elegant mode of dressing the celeriac
as a dish, is described in the Ga rd . M a g ., vol. v. p. 364.
3D31. Vurictu's. These avc —
. The iumip-roofeil, or colorific, tho grown to a largo sizo in tlio noigliceicri
1. The early red ¡¡olid.
I. The white soHd.
rare of tho Itoonch, ami tho bonrhooU of IJainlnirgii, ami soniui
5. North's upriglit, or Italian; docidodly
HO£i-sc«m'c of Iho Goniiiiiis. Tliis times imported for thu London
tlic best vnrii'ty in cultivation. (See
is hardier than tho other kinds, and
(jard. Slog., vol. ix.)
will continue longer iu spring. It it
31)32. E s tim a te o f sorts. The Italian variety is preferable for general cultnre. The red variety is
ra the r course for salads, but it is hardy to stand the winter, and well adapted for soups and stews. Thy
turnip-rooted is cultivated on account of its root, which is fit for use in September and October, and may
be preserved in and through the winter. . „ ^ z.
3933. P ro p a g a tio n . All the sorts are raised from seed : and half an ounce is reckoned sufticient for a
sced-bcd 4 | ft. wide by 10 ft. in length, of the upright sorts ; but for celeriac, a quarter of an ounce will
be enough for a bed 4 ft. square.
3934. Soil. Celery delights in a soil ra the r moist, rich in vegetable mould, but not rank from new
unrotted dung. . .
3935. Tim e s o f sotoing. The most forward crop is slightly forced; any of the varieties may be sown m
the spring, in the open garden, at two or three difi'erent times, from the 21st of March till the first
week in May; but the principal sowing should be made in the first fortnight of April.
3936. E a r lii crop. “ For early summer and autumn celery, sow a small portion towards the end of
February, in a moderate hotbed. When tlio young plants are about 2 in. high, prick out soin^c into
a wann border, 2 in. or 3 in. apart, or ra the r into a second slight hotbed, if before the 21st of March,
as well to protect the plants as to expedite their growth for final planting. As soon as the leaves are
6 in. high, iu Mayor June, transplant them into trenches for blanching, as directed below for the
main crops ; but as these early sown phmts will not continue long in full growth, before many ot them
will pipe or run, you should plant only a moderate crop, for a temporary supply. When they are advanced
in the trenches from 8 in. to 12in. in growth, begin to earth tiicra up several inches on both sides
each row : continue earthing up by degrees as they rise higher, till they are whitened from Gin. to 12 in.
in length ; when they m^- be digged up as wiintod.”
3937. M a in c rops. " To raise the main crops for summer, autumn, and winter, miike a considerable
sowing at the commencement of April. Sow in beds of light mellow earth, and rake in the seed lightly
and regularly. In very dry weather, give moderate watering both before and after the plants come up.
When they ure 2 in., 3 in ., or 4 in . high, thin the seed-bed, and prick out a quantity a t successive times
into intermediate beds, 3 in. or 4 in. asunder. Water those removed, and till they have struck.”
3938. J u d d sows about the middle of January in a warm situation, on very rich ground, protecting it by
mats a t night. When the plants are from 2 in. to 3 in. high, he pricks out into a nursery-bed, immersing
the plants, as he draws them, in water, so as they may remain moist while out of ground. The
plants remain in the nursery-bed till they become “ very strong.” {H o r t. 2 'ra n s., vol. ii.)
3939. W alk e r, of Longford, near Manchester, grows the red celery; sows for the early crop about the
1st of March, and for the late crop about the 1st of April. “ The seecl-bcd is formed of fresh, dark,
loamy soil, mixed with old rotten dung, half and half, and placed on a hotbed. The nursery or
transplanting bod is formed with old hotbed dung, very well broken, laid 6 in. or 7 in. thick, on a piece
of ground which has lain some time undisturbed, or has been made hard by compression. The situation
should bo sunny. The plants are set G in. apart in the dung, without soil, and covered with handglasses.
They are watered well when planted, and frequently afterwards. By hardening the soil under
the dung in wliich the plants are set, the root is formed into a brush of fibres ; and by tlius preventing
the pushing of a tap-root, th e plant never runs to seed before the following spring.” {Caled. H o r t.
M em ., vol. ii.)
3940. T ra n sp la n tin g into trenches. “ When either the plants left in the secd-bed, or those removed,
are from 6 in. to 12 in. high, or when the latter have acquired a stocky growth by four or five weeks’
n u rtu re iu the intermediate bed, transplant them into trenches for blanching. For this purpose allot
an open compartment. Mark out the trenches I ft. wide, and from 3 ft. to 3^ ft. distance ; dig out each
trench lengthwise, a spade in width, and a light spit deep, that is, 6 in. or Bin. Lay the excavated
earth smoothly in th e intervals, making the edges of the trenches equally full ancl straight ; also loosen
the bottom moderately, in a level order, to receive th e plants. Before inserting them, it would essentially
strengtiicn the soil to apply some good rotten dung in each trench 2 iu. or 3 in. thick, and let it
be dug in a t the bottom regularly, a moderate depth. Then, having lifted the plants, just trim any long
straggling tops of the leaves ancl fibres of the roots ; also slip oif side shoots ; plant a single row along
th e bottom of each trench, 4in. or 5 in .a p a rt. Give a good watering directly; and occasionally after,
if the weather be dry, till the plants take root and show a renewed growth. Continue planting out a
monthly succession in June, July, August, ancl September; thus providing for a supply from July
ancl August of the pressent summer throughout the course of autumn and winter, till May in the following
spring.”
3941. An d e r so n grows his celery in trenches 6 ft. wide and 1 ft. deep, inserting th e plants in rows
across the trenches. This method is generally practised by market gardeners in the neighbourhood of
Edinburgh, because it enables them to grow a number of plants in a small space, and when the soil is
sufflciently rich, they attain an average degree of size and succulency.
3942. R o g e r plants potatoes at a greater distance than usual, and, when they are earthed up for th e last
time, the hollow formed between the rows is used as a trench for the celery plants. The advantages of
this plan, which Mr. Roger has practised in his garden near Kilmarnock for sevcrai years, are as follows :
1. No ground is lost by the celery crop; 2. No labour is required in making the trench ; 3. The celery
plants thrive better at first, by being partly shaded by the potatoes; and 4. The celery can be partly
earthed up when digging the potatoes, without any additional labour.
3943. J u d d prepares his ground for transplanting, by trenching it two spades deep, mixing with it m
the operation a good dressing of well-reduced dung from th e old forcing-beds. He says, “ 1 give it a
second trenching, that the dung may be the better incorporated with the mould, and then leave it in as
rough a state as possible, till my plants are ready to be put out. In the ground thus prepared, 1 form
trenches 20 in. wide, and C in. deep, a t 6 ft. distance from each other, measuring from the centre of
each trench. Before planting, I reduce th e depth of the trenches to 3 in., by digging in sufticient dung
to fill them so much up. At the time of planting, if the weather be drv, th e trenches are well watered
in the morning, and the plants are p u t in, Gin. apart, in the row, in the evening, care being taken by
th e mode above mentioned, to keep the fibres quite wet whilst out of ground. As they are drawn from
the nursery-bed, the plants are dressed for planting, and then laid regularly in the garden-pan. The
trenches in wliich my rows of celery are planted being so very shallow, the roots of the plants grow
nearly on a level with the surface of the ground : this I consider particularly advantageous ; for as considerable
cavities are necessarily formed on each side when th e moulding takes place, all injury from
stagnant water or excess of moisture is prevented. T h e trenches, when planted, are watered as may be
required.” He adds, “ that he prepares his ground for celery during the winter, and avoids putting
much of a crop in the space between the trenches, especially one th a t grows tall, as he finds celery docs
best when it grows as open as possible.”
3944. W a lk e r makes his trenches at 4ft. distance, and 18in. wide, 12 in. deep, and filled 9 in. with a
compost of fresh strong soil, and well-rotted dung ; three fourths dung, and one fourth soil. Old hotbed
dung is the best. The plants should be taken up with as much dung as v ill conveniently adhere to
the roots, and the side shoots are removed from the stems ; they are then set with the hand at 9 in. or
10 in. apart in the centre of each trench. It is necessary to water well until they are ready to be earthed
up, but not afterwards.
3945. I.a n d in g u p . As the plants in the trenches rise from 10 in. to 15 in. high, Abercrombie begins to
land up for blanching, observing “ to trim in the e.arth gently, when first raised to the stems, with a hoe
or spade, but mostly the latter. IVhen the plants are of more advanced growth, earth them up equally
on iioth sides each row, 3 in., 4 in. or 5 in., aeeording to the strength and height of the different crops.
Repeat this once a week or fortnight, till by degrees they are landed up from 12in. to 2ft., in order to
blanch them of some considerable length. Continue thus lauding up the difFcront crops from July till
February. As the autumnal and main winter crops attain full growth, give them a final landing up
r the tops, which will increase the Ic-ngtii of the blanched part, and also protect the latter crops more
efrectually during the winter.’'
3946. Jtid d , in landing up celery, does “ not think It well to load the plants with too much mould at
first; tho two first mouldings, therefore, are done very sparingly, and only with the common draw-hoe,
forming a ridge on each side of the row, and leaving tne plants in a hollow, to receive the full benefit of
tho rain and waterings. When the plants are strong enough to bear 6 in. height of mould, the moulding
is done with the spade, taking care to leave basis enough to suport the mass of mould which will ultimately
be used in the ridge, and still keeping for somc time the plants in a hollow, as before directed.
The process of moulding is continued tbrough th e autumn, gradually diminishing th e breadth of the toji,
until a t last it is drawn to as sharp a ridge as possible to stand the winter. In the operation of
moulding it is necessary, in order to prevent the earth from falling into the heart of the plant, to keep
the outer leaves as close together as possible ; for this purpose, before I begin th e moulding, I take long
strands of bast matting, tied together till of sufiicient length to answer for an entin V ; and ^ I fasten
.
this string to the first plant in the row, then pass it to the next plant, giv
mg It one twist round the
leaves, and so on, tiU I Tcach the other end, where it is again fastened ; when the moulding is finished,
the string is easily unravelled, by beginning to untwist it a t the end where it was last fastened.”
3947. W alk e r “ having removed the lateral shoots, the leaves of each plant being held together with
one hand, draws the pulverised soil round with the other, taking care not to earth up too high at once,
nor too dose. Tlie heart should always be left quite free. This may be repeated about once a fortnight,
until the plants arc ready for use.”
3948. L a ic crop. “ For late spring celery, to stand till the end of May in the returning spring, without
running considerably, it is expedient to make a small late sowing a t tlie commencement of May. The
plants when six weeks old may he pricked on intermediate beds in rows, Gin. by 3 in. asunder, to
remain till September or October ; then transplant them into moderate trenches ; as they advance in
growth, earth them up a littlo in w in ter; and, finally, in the spring, in February or March.” Kome
allow the plants to remain in the spring seed-bed, tiil they are wauted for the late plantation, and find
. that they do nearly as well as a second sowing.
3949. Occasional shelter. “ On the approach of frost, take up a part of the crop, and lay it by under dry
sand for winter use. To preserve the plants left in the bed, lay some long dry litter over the tops ; whicfi
remove in every interval of mild weather. It is a common complaint that very fine-looking celery is
often found to be rotten at the base of the leaf-stalks ; the fact being, that when celery is lull grown, and
■ tho blanching completed, it begins to decay, and will not keep good in the ground for more than a month
at most. Some, therefore, take up and preserve in dry sand ; but in that situation it soon becomes tough
and dry. The best mode seems to be that of forming successive plantations.” {T ra n s . U o rt. Soc.,
vol. vii. p a rt I.)
39.50. T a k h ig th e c ro p . “ It is best to begin a t one end of a row, and dig clean down to tho roots, which
then loosen with a spade, that they may be drawn up entire without breaking the stalks.”
3951. Cultivation o f celeriac. “ Celeriac,” Mr. Ellis,-a first-ratc gardener, observes,
“ is cultii’atcd with greater ease and at less expense than the common celery, and it may
be used iu the kitchen for seven or eiglit months in succession.” {Card. May.,
vol. V. p. 30-1.) The times of sowing arc the same as for the other sorts. Cclcnac
requires a rich well-manured soil, and, according to an account comimuiicatcd by
Lord Stanhope {liort. 'Trans., vol. iii.), the plants arc raised on a hotbed under glass,
and transplanted when 2 in. or 3 in. high to another hotbed, and set in. apart.
“ In the beginning or middle of June they arc transplanted into a Hat bed in the
open air, at the distance of 15 in. from each othcv, and not in trenches like other
celery. They must be abundantly -watered as soon as they are set out, and the -watering
must he repeated every other day, or, if the weather should be warm, every day. As
thev increase in size, they will require a greater quantity of v'atcr, and they must he
occasionally hoed. The roots will be fit for use in September or October.” This
variety of celery has a continual tendency to revert from the knob-rooted form to that
which is natural to it, and hence, like the turnips and other knob-rooted plants of
culture, it will not attain any large size if much earthed up. Still, the celery, to bo
eatable, requires to bo blanched, and therefore must he earthed up to a certain extent,
bnt tlic less the better.
3952. To save seed. ‘ Either leave some established plants in th e spring where growing; or :
February or IVIarch dig " g u up p a competent number, cut down the top leaves, and ancl set set^
the plants in the
ground, fuli 2 ft. asunder. They will produce seed in autumn.” Walker grows only reel i
preparing plants for seed, chooses the most solid, of the reddest colour, and the smallest size. When
taking out of the transplanting bed, the lateral shoots being removed, they should be planted in a dry
Ita
....................... r seed, chooses f ^ a,. . . a ... i . ..........
.splanting i
warm“ situation, where the seed will ripen well. , . a, .
3953. Diseases, insects, ^ c . Celery is liable to be eaten by a maggot which breeds m the leaves, but ol
what insect appears to be unknown. {G a rd . Ma g ., vol. iv. p. 189., and vol. v. p. 238.) It is also liable
to th e attacks of the parasitical fungus. Rucclnia //craclòi. When either of these evils occur, there
seems nothing left for the gardener to do but to destroy the plants, or to remove them altogether from
the garden and make a new plantation in a frosh soil. Tossibly tobacco water might check the maggot ;
and a t all events, if it has not gone too far before it is discovered, it may be removed by hand. { Ib id .,
vol. v. p. 107., and vol. ix . p. 328.)
Subsect. 5. Mustard.— Sinàpis L.; Tetradynàmia Silûpibsa L. and Crucîferæ J.
Moutarde, Er. ; Senf, Gcr. ; Mosterd, Dutch ; Senapa, Ital. ; and Mostazo, Span.
3 954. Ofmusta,rd there aro two species in cultivation, the black and ihe white; annuals,
and' natives of Britain. The wliite mustard is the 5iuapis alba L . (Eng. But.
3 K 3
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