WATERCRESS-FARMING. 



EVERYONE is well acquainted with the cry of the 

 watercress-seller, though it is, perhaps, rather 

 amongst the by-ways and lanes of the large 

 towns that he seeks his customers than in the 

 more fashionable quarters. The inhabitants of 

 the latter would hardly elect to purchase from the 

 shabbily-dressed and none too cleanly-looking 

 individual whose stock - in - trade is generally 

 carried in a hamper slung to his back by a 

 piece of cord, both as dilapidated as himself ; 

 but the cresses within look fresh and green, 

 notwithstanding ; they may have been gathered 

 by fingers guiltless of soap, and their vendor 

 may be a most unsavoury mortal, but none 

 the less some of the fresh little bunches may 

 perchance find their way to the table of his 

 Grace the Duke, who lives in the big house 

 at the corner of the square, while others may 

 serve to adorn that of some hard-worked artisan, 

 or the cabman who lives in the mews off the 

 side-street : for Sprouts, who keeps the green- 

 grocer's shop close by, was formerly in the service 



