Vaughan's Celery Manual

From the Preface: WE are often consulted by those who would engage in gardening or plant growing and trust some may find in a careful study of these pages that answer which lack of time prevents our giving to individual cases. While in these times of close competition in every branch of labor or business we would not throw any false rosy light over the pursuit of gardening; while we would be the last to mislead the beginner who may harbor the idea that "anyone can be a gardener " yet we must claim for it a fair promise of reward for energy and brains. Let no one imagine that he needs but sow to reap; that fine crops and good prices for them are as sure from his ground as "grass grows and water runs," but know, that to be a good gardener is not less difficult than to be a good merchant, manufacturer, grocer or tradesman . The wise solution of the problem of creating wealth from the soil is not less difficult and requires no less time to learn than many other pursuits and he who thinks otherwise may learn the contrary at the end of sad and dear experiences. We know of no business so easy and profitable that unskilled labor may expect immediate success. The Culture of Celery is no exception, it is perhaps a high branch of that "Art which doth mend Nature," therefore act wisely and by all the knowledge you can acquire from practical men and despise not that knowledge because you find it written in books; rather study wisely to marry the theory with the practice. This well done, the well-read man can never be scorned by his less educated but more practical brother worker. We know, however, of no branch of art where one by carefully following the instructions here given, may hope for greater return for his investment and labor. To Mr. Burt Eddy (a practical grower of twenty years experience) I am indebted for the thorough working details and systematic arrangements - in fact the authorship of this Manual, which I have supervised, illustrated and printed, with the hope that it may be some addition to the scant list of practical gardening essays.