CRESSES, 227 
Tennyson, the faithful poet of nature, tells in the rippling 
musical metre of his famous Brook :— 
**T linger by my shingly bars, 
I loiter round my Cresses.” 
Again, on account of its chemical constituents, this herb is 
deservedly extolled as specific against tubercular disease, 
particularly of the lungs. Haller says: ‘“ We have seen patients 
in deep decline cured by living almost entirely on this plant.” 
Its active principles are at their best when the herb is in flower. 
The leaves remain green when grown in the shade, but become 
of a purple-brown (because of their iron) when exposed to 
abundant sunshine. In France the Water Cress, accompanied 
by oil and vinegar, is eaten at table, with chicken, or with a 
steak. The Englishman takes it at his morning, or evening 
meal, with bread and butter, or at dinner in a salad. The plant 
contains 2 per cent of sugar, and a little starch. 
‘‘Our Cambrian Fathers, sparing in their food, 
First broil’d their hunted goats on bars of wood: 
Sharp hunger was their seasoning ; or, they took 
Such salt as issued from the native rock ; 
Their sallading was never far to seek, 
The poinant watercress, and sav’ry leek.” —Art of Cookery. 
The Latin name Nasturtium has been given to this Water Cress 
because of its pungency when bruised and smelt at, from nasus, 
a nose, and tortus, turned away; it being, so to say, “a herb 
that writhes, or twists, the nose.” 
The true Nasturtium (Tropeolum majus), or Indian Cress, is 
cultivated in our gardens as an ornamental creeper, with brilliant 
orange-red flowers, and producing familiar “‘ nuts,” or “ cheeses,” | 
resembling those of the mallow ; which serve also as a substitute 
for capers in pickle. This plant partakes of the sensible and 
useful qualities of the other Cresses. The flowers make a 
pretty. palatable, and wholesome addition to salads ; the bruised 
leaves emit a pungent smell; whilst the flowers by themselves 
{resembling golden helmets) give out a quite distinct, and 
delicious scent. 
For the cleansing and healing of scrofulous sores a Water Cress 
cataplasm, applied cold, in a single layer, and with a pinch of 
salt sprinkled thereon, makes a most useful poultice; as also 
for resolving glandular swellings. Water Cresses squeezed and 
