190 CRESS FENNEL. 



acre. The land being sloping, a current is produced, and cresses are 

 produced in all winter months, if not allowed to flower. The ground 

 is laid dry 2 or 3 times a year, and weeds, &c. removed. But living 

 streams are best. 



WINTER CRESS, or Early Hedge, Barbaraa vulgaris, C. 15. sp. 

 4-6. D. P. 1 ft. A species of mustard growing early in spring. It is a na- 

 tive of this country and of Europe. It is of a hot and biting nature, and 

 the young leaves are a principal ingredient in salads most of the year. 

 The Normandy cress is found to be less acrid, more pleasant, and is 

 now coming into general use. It is sown in light soil in September, 

 and as a breakfast herb in winter it is very fine and wholesome. 



WATER LILY, Nymphaia, C. 13. O. 1. sp. 10-20. A. P. A 

 beautiful genus of aquatic plants upon our lakes and slow waters, af- 

 fording a tuberous root as large as an egg, which is eaten cooked in 

 various ways. The seeds are also used in some parts to make a kind 

 of bread, and they were thus used by the ancients. The sweet scented 

 and small sweet are peculiar to this country. 



INDIAN CRESS, Tropaolum majus, or Nasturtium indicus, C. 8. 

 O. 1. sp. 5-13. A. 1-6 ft. This is an ornamental annual and a valuable 

 culinary plant. It is a native of Peru, and was brought from thence 

 in 1580. The flowers and the young leaves have a warm pleasant 

 taste, and are much used for salads. The young seeds pickled in salt 

 and vinegar are used as a substitute for capers, and by some preferred. 

 It is a good antiscorbutic, and the young leaves and flowers are used 

 for weakness or pain in the stomach, arising from cold and flatulency ; 

 they also form a brilliant garnish. 2 varieties are cultivated here. In 

 the evening the flowers emit, at certain intervals, sparks like those 

 from an electric machine, which was first observed by the daughter of 

 Linnseas. 



The genus to which this belongs is before spoken of under the head 

 of Nasturtian. Common Cress is a species of Pepperwort. Spanish 

 Cress is of the same genus. 



FENNEL, anethum faniculum. C. 5. 0. 2. sp. 4. Dh. P. 6 ft. A 

 plant growing wild here and a native of the S. of Europe. The stalks 

 and the leaves when boiled are used in fish sauces and also with 

 pickled fish and pork, and raw as salads. The whole plant is good in 

 broths and soups and the stalks are blanched for winter salads. The 

 juice is said to clear film from the eyes, taken when the stalk is nearly 

 grown. A distilled water from the seeds is used medicinally ; they 

 are an excellent stomachic and carminative. In all its uses the plant 

 is good for the stomach. It is easily cultivated. The seeds are im- 

 ported from France, and are used in making gin. Fennel is a species 

 of dill. It is 5 or 6 feet high and the leaves are divided into fine long 

 segments of a bright green. Its flowers are yellow and appear in 

 July and Aug. It has a strong disagreeable odor. In France and 

 Spain it is much used put up with olives and pickled pork. 



