There are decided advantages, however, in raising our own plants,
especially if midsummer should prove dry and hot, or the plants
must be long in transit. When they are growing in our own garden,
they can be moved with very slight check to their growth. In
starting the seed there is no necessity for hot-bed or cold-frame.
It may be put in the ground the first week of April, and the best
plants are thus secured. Much is gained by preparing a warm but
not dry plot of ground in autumn, making it very rich with short,
half-decayed stable-manure. This preparation should be begun as
soon as possible after the soaking September rains. Having
thoroughly incorporated and mixed evenly in the soil an abundance
of the manure described, leave the ground untouched for three
weeks. The warm fertilizer will cause great numbers of weed-seeds
to germinate. When these thrifty pests are a few inches high, dig
them under and bring up the bottom soil. The warmth and light will
immediately start a new and vigorous growth of weeds, which in
turn should be dug under. If the celery seed bed be made early
enough, this process can be repeated several times before winter--
the oftener the better; for by it the great majority of weed-seeds
will be made to germinate, and thus are destroyed. The ground also
becomes exceedingly rich, mellow, and fine--an essential condition
for celery seed, which is very small, and germinates slowly.
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