THE VEGETABLE GARDEN.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 19858, 31 January 1928, Page 14

THE VEGETABLE GARDEN.

CELERY CULTURE. BY S.T.R. The attention given to the celery crop during its development is considered just as important as the preparations made for the plants. One thing which must not be overlooked is the supply of moisture. Being, in its wild state, a waterside plant, celery naturally enjoys an abundant supply of moisture in cultivation. The trench in which it is customary to grow celery will greatly facilitate watering operations. Keeping the soil stirred between the plants in the trench should also be attended to, especially after rain or any application of moisture. The maintenance of a soil mulch will help considerably, as it will make any application last longer by preventing undue waste through evaporation. Applications of liquid manure may also be made at intervals from the time the plants become established, and these should produce good results provided the manure from which the solution is made is of the right nature. Any manure or fertiliser which would have the effect of promoting rapid growth should not be used, for it would not produce satisfactory results. If stimulated to make quick development the celery plants will produe hollow sticks.. Slew-acting manures or fertilisers oily should be used. Good solutions may be made of some of the animal manures, such as horse or cow manure or fowl manure. The materia'i used should be suspended in coarse sacking in the water for about a day before being applied. The quantity to use will vary according to the freshness of the* material, but, as a ruJe, about i2oz. tci the gallon should bo suitable. Fowl! manure, however, should not be used quite as strong, about Boz. being sufficient for each gallon Once the plants have established them-, Belves after the transplanting liquid manurings may be made fairly frequently, but it should be remembered that a clear watering should always be given beforehand. It is an advantage to change the manure used about once every third application if this be possible. Control ol Pests. The control of pests is another thing which should occupy part of the grower's attention during the development of the crop. The two chief pests of the celery are the celery fly and the celery fungus. The presence of the former is denoted by the leaves taking on a blistered appearance. Various remedies, such as the sprinkling of dry lime or soot over the plants, may be tried, but these usually have to be repeated in order to be entirely successful. The best remedy, in the opinion of the writer, is to spray with a solution of soft soap. The solution may be made by dissolving 2oz. of soap in i little hot water. This may be hastened considerably by cutting the soap into thi:a flakes. When the soap has dissolved it should be added to about five gallons of •water, which has been softened by the addition of a little washing soda, and the whole stirred vigorously to produce a good lather, if it does not lather the xvater is still hard anr) a little more soda should be added. The plants should be sprayed with this solution thoroughly whenever the fly attacks the plants. Spraying is also necessary to combat celery fungus. The presence of this pest is indicated by the edges of the leaves turning brown and curling up. The fungus may spread to the stems also, and whea this occurs all plants affected must be destroyed by burning. If taken in hand in time, however, the disease may be prevented from spreading. To prevent infection spray the plants right from the start regularly and thoroughly. Suitable spraying mixtures are Bordeaux, 4-4-40, or lime sulphur, 1 in 60, and these should be applied at intervals of about three week's. Blanching Operations. The subsequent attention in connection with the celery crop includes blanching operations. These are. of great importance. When found growing wild the celery plant possessed some injurious properties, and these have still been retained by ihc cultivated plant. It has been -found, though, that, by bleaching the stalks, the harmful properties are destroyed or else overcome to such an extent that they are not noticeable. Blanching should not be commenced at too early a date. When the plants s.re approaching maturity is quite soon enough to commence the operation. As a rule the blanching process takes about five to 6everi weeks to complete. Crops which were planted early in the season should now be sufficiently advanced to have blanching operations commenced upon them... One of the commonest methods of blanching consists of earthing the stalks up. The soil may be drawn up to the plants gradually in several stages until finally the whole of the stalks is covered, or ail alternative way is to cover the stalks with soil totally in one operation. The former method, although it entails wore labour, is to be preferred, as it is more efficient. The first time the plants are earthed up by this method the stalks may be covered half way up, and a little more covered up each time for ahout three more times until the operation is complete, Oare in Earthing Up. Care should be taken in earthing up : , as there are several points which need to be watched. The first is to see that the condition of the soil is right. The soil should be dry at. the time of drawirg it up to t.he plants and the plants themselves should be dry. Also the weather .should be fine It is well for the gardener to be warned about drawing wet soil up to plants for tho plants aie very liable tc commenc to rot. Further the soil should not get into the hearts of the plants to start rot when it becomes wet There .are several ways in which this may be prevented, one being to gather the leaves in a bun<-h and tie them at the tor> with wool or raffia or some other material which will not cut into the stalks Another way is to gather the leaver together and wrap a piece of paper ronud them The latter method is perhaps the better, for it is Far more effective jn keeping the fine dust, which is so plentiful during a dry season, out of the centres of the plants. It is not necessary to remove the paper, as it 'will decay in time The raffia, etc., however, should be removed ars soon as the earthing up is completed. Othei Ways, of Blanching. Other methods of blanching include the use of boards. These are placed on each side jf the row close to the plants, but not so close as to crush the stalks These may be held in position until the blanching is complete, by means of pests. This method is becoming more popular vear by year, as it is simple, yet effective. There "is no danger of rot setting in through contact with soil, for no soil, at, all is brought into touch with the stalks. It an easv matter to obtain any produce at any time. Tho simplest method of all consists of & 'wrapping the plants around with paper, ss if to prevent tho soil from getting into the centres as mentioned above. Brown Hility should be used," this .round the plants about this case it will he tseces>aper to keep it in posibeeri found that this effective, and blanches,