36 CBTTCIFEB.E. 



and broad hats, with baskets, and garlands, and air-flushed 

 cheeks, stooping in graceful attitudes to gather the aromatic 

 herb, I saw men and boys lying on the said planks and picking 

 hard at the Cresses as if they were paid at so much a bushel. 

 When they arose their faces looked puffed and apoplectic, and 

 they moved their planks and lay down again to work in a most 

 matter-of-fact fashion. So much for the prestige ! 



The Creeping Yellow Cress (Nasturtium sylvestre), is a much 

 smaller plant, with dark green pinnate leaves. It flowers from 

 July to October. I gathered it some years ago near Little 

 Ouseburn, in Yorkshire, in a clayey pasture. 



The Amphibious Yellow Cress (N. amphibium), is one of 

 Edward's beloved Avon plants. It grows to the height of 

 several feet, and its yellow flowers contrast well with the 

 spikes of the purple Loosestrife, and the crimson umbels of 

 the Flowering Reed. The leaves vary in form from simple 

 oblong to pinnate ; it flowers in autumn. 



The annual Yellow Cress (N. terrestre), is less handsome, its 

 petals being shorter than the calyx ; it is found in Kinghorn 

 Loch, in Fifeshire. 



Perhaps the least interesting family, at any rate in appear- 

 ance, of this order is that of the Hedge Mustard. The common 

 Hedge Mustard (Sisymbrium officinale), with its very insig- 

 nificant sulphur-flowers, pods pressed close to the tough stem, 

 and general dusty appearance, seldom tempt any but a botanist 

 to gather its spikes. 



Its sister, the Flixweed (S. Sophia), is a much more agree- 

 able object. Its narrow doubly-pinnate dark green leaves and 

 crowded spike of small yellow flowers are almost pretty. 



The Broad Hedge Mustard or London Rocket (S. irio), is 

 interesting as having appeared in great abundance after the 

 fire of London. Some botanical books still refer you to " waste 

 ground about London" for this plant, and I once vainly hoped 

 to get it from a London correspondent. He repaired to a nur- 

 seryman for the desired plant, and received for answer that 



