" Earthing up Celery " - from Gardening Illustrated - you extract for your readers, page 368, and ask them to tell what they know about it. Well, I am in a small way in quantity, compared with your city market gardeners, yet the same experimental knowledge holds good. The last fifteen years or so I have grown for sale, chiefly to private individuals, from 600 to 2000 heads each year, and so far as climate and soil, I have desired to raise it as cheap and as good as possible, but this I have failed to do - that is, to produce, as the article states, good blanched celery, without earthing until full growth is attained. Some of the seasons past, my time and attention has been so divided in the florist's line, that I have had to let it grow, and have neglected to begin the earthing up, but always with regret when digging up time came, in being wanting in whiteness or blanching for present use. I admit it would be rather larger but no one wants green celery for table use, no more than green grapes. They are neither ripe or fit for use. Of course, if celery is not wanted, say until March, and can be stored in a good cool, dark cellar, it would make all the difference. Any plant will get white and exclude the light.

In regard to using other means than the earth for blanching, I fail to see any economy in that, except it be in producing more on the ground, the rows might be nearer together, but think it would not be so good in quality, the natural earth having a tendency to make it sweet and crisp. The article referred too, says the sloping earthing up prevents the watering and rain. My answer is, the earthing should not begin until it has got a good start, and not much to prevent its growth at first. If the earthing is done with judgment the rain and water will run towards the roots and not away from them. I always strive to earth up after a good rain. If we mulch all other roots to prevent evaporation, does it not stand good in this case, at least this is my view. Henderson's White Plume, is a sport kind that does not require earthing, being in itself white, self-blanching, and is getting quite popular here as an early first-use kind. I grow chiefly Henderson's half dwarf. Our sister city, St. John, N. B., is the place for celery culture, being by the sea, cool, and moist; having a rich black, deep marshy soil.

They produce it from July to November for the market, and I know of no other mode than the frequent earthing practice.

Fredtricton, N. B.