CRESSES 107 



garnishing or for salads, and are picked when about 

 three inches in length. Cress is usually a spring or fall 

 crop, not being so good in summer. Vilmorin-Andrieux 

 gives five varieties, but American seedsmen seldom offer 



SB 



Fig. 55. Seedlings of Garden Cress. Two-thirds natural size. 



more than the common and the curled. Its chief enemy 

 is the flea-beetle. 



Soil. Preferably moist, cool and rich, but any good 

 garden soil will do. 



Distances. Rows a foot apart. 



Depth. Shallow; about one-fourth inch. 



Sow thickly, as soon as the ground is fit in spring, 

 and at weekly intervals till warm weather; begin again 

 at the middle of August for fall succession. 



Thinning is scarcely necessary. 



Culture. Preserve soil-moisture. 



Pick when from three to six inches tall; cut the 

 leaves and leave roots to develop a second crop. Or 

 pick as wanted. 



In the house Cress can be easily grown, in pots or 

 boxes, by a sunny window. 



