9. Celerji {Celar'i). — Sow in July in boxes or pans, and
prick out when about two inches high ; four plants in a pot.
Give incessant attention to ensure rapid growth, for on this
depends the success of celery. When strong, vigorous, young
plants, at least six inches high, they may be put in the open ;
but unless great care can be given, it is best to put the plants
in single pots for a fortnight or three weeks more, especially
for the first ci’op. The easiest way of planting celery out is
to dig a row of circular holes about six inches apart. They
should be nine inches across, and at least a foot deep. Fill
to within three inches of the top with a mixture of tw’o parts
rotten manure to one of earth. Water the plants constantly
with liquid manure, and when they have come to maturity,
not before, earth up and blanch for a fortnight. The art of
celery -growing consists in rapid, continuous growth, gained
by well-rotted old manure and leaf mould. The best soil for
growing celery is made by mixing old manure with Avater
and a little mould to a thick paste, putting it first in the
pan, and over that half an inch of finest leaf mould mixed
with sand and a little charcoal dust. Celery plants should
be pricked out in a similar composition. Fresh manure is
not to be applied, save mixed with water as liquid manure.
Celery may be sown in March, and the young plants kejit
through the summer will come on rapidly Avhen the cold
season begins. But they are apt to be stringy.
10. Cucumbers (Keerd). — Kuhrees and cucumbers grow
lavishly, and give no trouble anywhere. But they may be
had a month earlier by sowing in a hot bed in January.
Require well-rotted manure. English seed groAvs Avell, but
the floAvers sometimes fail to set unless artificially hybridised.
'I'he native cucumbers are, hoAvever, excellent, and the KuJree
or doAvny cucumber is an unjustly neglected vegetable, being
far more Avholesome than the cucumber.
11. Egg Plant (Brhijal, Baingun). — Leave this to the mt'ili.
He understands it ; but insist on having a supply from April
to November.
12. Endive (Saldde). — Treat as for lettuce; but before
cutting for table, endive must be blanched. Gather the
])lant together Avith one hand, and tie round about three
Housekeeper and Cook 139
inches from the top. Earth over with dry eartli, or put a
pot over. In six days they will be ready, and in ten they
will begin to spoil, so do not earth too many at a time.
Stewed endive is as good as sea-kale, but few people
know it.
13. Lettuce {Salcide').- — ^Begin trial-sowings in August, and
continue every fortnight till February. Sow in pans pro-
tected from ants, as they are very partial to lettuce seed.
The soil should be a mixture of old manui-e, leaf mould, and
sand. The seeds sometimes take a long time germinating.
Prick out the young seedlings, when they have four leaves,
into very rich shady beds, and transplant again into the
open. The object in all salad-plants is to secure rapid
growth, and yet check the tendency to run to seed. This
can only be effected by careful transplanting and the richest
of soils. Briefly, endive and lettuces cannot be too highly
manured, or too often hoed and weeded. The mdli’s pet
plan of pulling seedlings up by the roots cannot be allowed.
Lettuces need a good deal of water.
Page 95
Presented as published in 1898. Historical recipes may not meet modern food-safety standards. Cook from the modern interpretation, not the original instructions.
AI-modernized reading of the original text
9. Celery (Celari). — Sow in July in boxes or pans, and prick out when about two inches high ; four plants in a pot. Give incessant attention to ensure rapid growth, for on this depends the success of celery. When strong, vigorous, young plants, at least six inches high, they may be put in the open ; but unless great care can be given, it is best to put the plants in single pots for a fortnight or three weeks more, especially for the first crop. The easiest way of planting celery out is to dig a row of circular holes about six inches apart. They should be nine inches across, and at least a foot deep. Fill to within three inches of the top with a mixture of two parts rotten manure to one of earth. Water the plants constantly with liquid manure, and when they have come to maturity, not before, earth up and blanch for a fortnight. The art of celery -growing consists in rapid, continuous growth, gained by well-rotted old manure and leaf mould. The best soil for growing celery is made by mixing old manure with water and a little mould to a thick paste, putting it first in the pan, and over that half an inch of finest leaf mould mixed with sand and a little charcoal dust. Celery plants should be pricked out in a similar composition. Fresh manure is not to be applied, save mixed with water as liquid manure. Celery may be sown in March, and the young plants kept through the summer will come on rapidly when the cold season begins. But they are apt to be stringy.
10. Cucumbers (Keerd). — Kuhrees and cucumbers grow lavishly, and give no trouble anywhere. But they may be had a month earlier by sowing in a hot bed in January. Require well-rotted manure. English seed grows well, but the flowers sometimes fail to set unless artificially hybridised. The native cucumbers are, however, excellent, and the Kuhree or downy cucumber is an unjustly neglected vegetable, being far more wholesome than the cucumber.
11. Egg Plant (Brinjal, Baingun). — Leave this to the mali. He understands it ; but insist on having a supply from April to November.
12. Endive (Saldde). — Treat as for lettuce; but before cutting for table, endive must be blanched. Gather the plant together with one hand, and tie round about three
Housekeeper and Cook 139
inches from the top. Earth over with dry eartli, or put a pot over. In six days they will be ready, and in ten they will begin to spoil, so do not earth too many at a time. Stewed endive is as good as sea-kale, but few people know it.
13. Lettuce {Salcide').- — ^Begin trial-sowings in August, and continue every fortnight till February. Sow in pans protected from ants, as they are very partial to lettuce seed. The soil should be a mixture of old manure, leaf mould, and sand. The seeds sometimes take a long time germinating. Prick out the young seedlings, when they have four leaves, into very rich shady beds, and transplant again into the open. The object in all salad-plants is to secure rapid growth, and yet check the tendency to run to seed. This can only be effected by careful transplanting and the richest of soils. Briefly, endive and lettuces cannot be too highly manured, or too often hoed and weeded. The mali's pet plan of pulling seedlings up by the roots cannot be allowed. Lettuces need a good deal of water.