230 THE GARDENER. [May 



Cress-culture, and the ground being almost a dead level, a judicious arrangement 

 in forming the beds gave them a slight incline, so that the water is kept 

 in motion, stagnant water not being suitable. 



The beds are formed from 4 to 5 yards wide, having banks between them 4 feet 

 wide and 2 feet high, tapering to 2 feet wide at top. Over the surface of these 

 beds was placed a little loamy soil, it being more suitable than the natural clay- 

 mixed with brick earth. Three or four of the beds described in some cases join 

 lengthwise, according to the space of ground there is to occupy. Where there is 

 not a suflBcient quantity of water to send in a supply by the end of each 

 bed, the beds are so arranged that the stream flows along one set of beds, and 

 returns by another. The depth of water is regulated by simply placing in or 

 removing from an opening in the bank a lump of heavy soil. In the winter time 

 the beds are emptied of water, and all last season's plants are cleared off, and about 

 the end of March a new supply of plants is obtained from some approved Water- 

 Cress runs in the country districts. Before planting, the water is allowed to stand 

 or rather run over the beds for a short time to soften the mud, and at planting 

 time the water is not more than 2 inches in depth. A strong plank is laid across 

 the bed from bank to bank, on which the planter supports himself, resting on his 

 knees or side. In planting, the operation is commenced at the end of the bed 

 where the water enters. The planter takes the Cress plant, about 6 inches long, 

 singly in one hand, and with the other pushes the root end slightly into the mud. 

 As Water-Cress beds are meant to pay, they are planted thickly, the rows about 3 

 inches apart, and the plants touching each other in the rows, which run in the 

 same direction as the course of the water. Great care is exercised to keep the 

 beds free from the disturbing influence of frogs. When the crop is fit to gather 

 the work takes place on planks, the same as in planting. The beds are gathered 

 very regularly, only pinching out the strongest heads. In gathering, and while 

 gathering, all those not quite old enough that may be standing up out of the water, 

 are niuibly pushed back into it again till ready for market. Men and women 

 generally gather, while boys and giils take them away and bunch them ready for 

 market. They are tied with pieces of rush about the thickness of a knitting-needle 

 into difierent-sized bunches, which are sold at two andfour bunches a penny, accord- 

 ing to size. Gecrge Dawson. 



KEVIEW. 



Handbook of Hardy Herbaceous and Alpine Flowers. By Wil- 

 liam Sutherland, Gardener to the Earl of Minto ; formerly Man- 

 ager of the Herbaceous Department at Kew. William Blackwood 

 & Sons, Edinburgh and London. 

 If any proof were required that Mr Sutherland has made the very 

 best possible use of his excellent opportunities for acquiring an intimate 

 and minute knowledge of the family of plants of which he treats in 

 this volume, we have only to consult its pages in order to see clearly 

 that he is a perfect master of his subject. The work throughout is 

 simple, both in its design and execution, and of course on that account 

 it is all the more likely to be useful and instructive. In sixty-five 

 pages of introductory remarks he makes out a just and powerful plea 



