CELERY (Apium graveolens)  , a biennial plant belonging to the natural order Umbelliferae, which, in its wild state, occurs in England by the sides of ditches and in marshy places, especially near the sea, producing a furrowed stalk and compound leaves with wedge-shaped leaflets, the whole plant having a coarse, rank taste and a peculiar smell . It is also widely distributed in the north temperate region of the Old World . By cultivation and blanching the stalks lose their acrid qualities and assume the mild sweetish aromatic taste peculiar to celery as a salad plant . The plants are raised from seed, sown either in a hot bed or in the open garden, according to the season of the year, and after one or two thinnings out and transplantings, they are, on attaining a height of 6 or 8 in., planted out in deep trenches for convenience of blanching, which is effected by earthing up and so excluding the stems from the influence of light . A large number of varieties are cultivated by gardeners, which are ranged under two classes, white and red,—the white varieties being generally the best flavoured and most crisp and tender . As a salad plant, celery, especially if at all " stringy," is difficult of digestion . Both blanched and green it is stewed and used in soups, the seeds also being used as a flavouring ingredient . In the south of Europe celery is seldom blanched, but is much used in its natural condition . Celeriac, or turnip-rooted celery (Apium graveolens var. rapaceum.), is a variety cultivated more on account of its roots than for the stalks, although both are edible and are used for salads and in soups . It is chiefly grown in the north of Europe . As the tops are not required, trenching is unnecessary, otherwise the cultivation is the same as for celery .