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174.— WATER-CRESS.— iV^as<M>-<«m officinale, B. Br. 



LTHOUGH we seldom hear the familar Coster's cry of " Fresh 

 Water-creases" in the streets of West Indian Towns there 

 are however but few markets in tliese Towns in which 

 Water-cress cannot be purchased. The Cress grown, though perhaps 

 not quite so succulent and vigorous, as would be found in Europe or 

 America is of very fair quality, and makes a very agreeable salad 

 for the table. The plant is naturalized in many of the rivers and 

 streams of the different Islands and its quality depends much 

 upon the character of the streams. A sluggish stream, of pure water 

 flowing over a sandy bottom is the place par excellence for Water-cress, 

 ^nd in some situations which present these features in Trinidad, Water- 

 cress is found in abundance. This salad may however with a little 

 care be fairly Avell grown in the more confined area of a villa garden pro- 

 vided a suitable place is constructed, and the necessary shade provided. 

 A shallow concrete tank should be provided about ten to twelve inches in 

 depth the lower portion should be filled with broken stones gradually 

 decreasing in size upwards, and the whole drainage should be about six 

 inches in thickness. On the surface of this should be placed two inches of 

 rough sand, and again on the immediate surface two inches of clean loam. 

 When the filling of the tank is complete, turn on a supply of water, 

 filling it to the brim, and after letting it soak for a few days, run off 

 the water and subsequently maintain a constant rimning supply. The 

 plants may now be put in as cuttings at about four or five inches 

 apart when they will soon fill all the available space. Unless the 

 tank is fairly well shaded however Oscillaria and other fresh water 

 Algse take possession of the water and hinder growth. Such a 

 shade may be given by constructing a light frame work covered with 

 palm leaves, but it is generally more economical to provide a growing 

 shade in the form of a vine or creeper of some kind. After a time 

 when the vigour of the Cress diminishes, the loam, sand, and drainage 

 should be removed, the drainage washed and returned, but fresh loam 

 and sand should be provided. Great care should be taken that only 

 clean water is used, and that no contamination of any kind should enter 

 the tank in which the Cress is grown, as, being eaten in an 

 uncooked state, even the slightest contamination of any kind is highly 

 dangerous to health. In preparation for the table also Cress should 

 always be dipped for a few seconds in strong salt and water and after- 

 wards washed in fresh, as by this means many objectionable organisms 

 can be removed. 



