466 OUTDOOR LIFE IN ENGLAND 



pected to yield two flats at each cutting. A flat 

 is about thirty inches in length, two feet wide, 

 and a foot in depth, and is capable of contain- 

 ing some two hundred large bunches at least 

 twelve bunches, such as are usually retailed in 

 the shops at a penny apiece, or two for three- 

 halfpence, could be made out of each of these 

 larger bunches. It is, therefore, possible to 

 form some estimate of the value of each flat, 

 labour and cost of carriage included, and it will 

 readily be seen that a very satisfactory sum may 

 be left to carry over to the credit side of the 

 account. Of course, the greater the extent of 

 ground cultivated, the larger the profit will be, as 

 the men employed can be retained throughout the 

 year, unless their services can be used for other 

 work on the farm. 



It is curious how many people are annually 

 poisoned by mistaking brooklime for watercress, 

 for the two plants are very unlike, and the flower 

 of the former is blue, that of the latter white ; 

 moreover, a very superficial experience of the 

 flavour of the brooklime should be quite suffi- 

 cient to deter anyone from a desire to extend it 

 further, for nothing can possibly be more nauseous. 

 Wherever cress will thrive, osiers can also be 

 profitably grown, and as these are useful for 

 making the flats, the village basket-makers profit 

 by the industry. 



Living in a district where cress-growing is 

 carried on to a considerable extent, I take no 



