332 SALAD PLANT. 



CUCKOO FLOWER. 



Small Water-cress. Cardamine pratensis. 



A hardy, perennial plant, introduced from Europe, and 

 naturalized to a limited extent in some of the Northern 

 States. Stem about fifteen inches high, erect, smooth ; 

 leaves deeply divided, the divisions of the radical or root 

 leaves rounded, those of the stalk long, narrow, and pointed ; 

 the flowers are comparatively large, white, or rose-colored, 

 and produced in erect, terminal clusters ; the seeds are of a 

 brown color, small, oblong, shortened on one side, rounded 

 on the opposite, and retain their vegetating powers four 

 years. Nearly thirty thousand are contained in an ounce. 



Soil. It succeeds best in moist, loamy soil, and should 

 have a shady situation. 



Propagation and Cultivation. It may be propagated from 

 seeds, or by a division of the roots. The seeds are sown in 

 April or May, in shallow drills a foot asunder. The roots 

 may be divided in spring or autumn. 



Use. The leaves have the warm, pungent taste common 

 to the Cress family, and are used, in their young state, like 

 Cress, as a salad. Medically, they have the reputation of 

 being highly antiscorbutic and of aiding digestion. There 

 are four varieties : 



White Flowering. A variety with white, single flowers. 



Purple Flowering. Flowers purple, single. Either of 

 these varieties may be propagated from seeds, or by a 

 division of the roots. 



Double Flowering White. Flowers white, double. 



Double Flowering Purple. A double variety, with pur- 

 ple blossoms. These varieties are propagated by a division 

 of the roots. Double-flowering plants are rarely produced 

 from seeds. 



