5 o THE CULTURE OF VEGETABLES 



The seed is usually sown too thick, yet thin sowing is not to be 

 recommended. It is important to cut Cress when it is just ready 

 tender, green, short, and plump. This it will never be if sown too 

 thick, or allowed to stand too long. Instantly upon the plant start- 

 ing to grow away from salad size it becomes worthless, and should be 

 dug in. 



AMERICAN OR LAND CRESS (Barbarea pracox} is of excellent 

 quality when grown on a good border, and two or three sowings 

 should be made in the spring and autumn in shady spots. 



WATER CRESS (Nasturtium offidnale) is so highly prized, that 

 many who are out of the reach of ordinary sources of supply would 

 gladly cultivate it were there a reasonable prospect of success. 

 Assertions have been made that it can be grown in any garden 

 without water, but we have never yet seen a sample fit to eat which 

 has been grown without assistance from the water-can. A running 

 stream is not necessary. Make a trench in a shady spot, and well 

 enrich the soil at the bottom of it. In this sow the seed in March, 

 and when the plants are established keep the soil well moistened. 

 The more freely this is done the better will be the result. Other 

 sowings may be made in April, August, and September. We have 

 seen Water Cress successfully cultivated in pots and pans immersed 

 in saucers of water placed in shady positions. 



CUCUMBER 



(Cucumis sativus) 



THE CUCUMBER is everywhere valued, and much spirit is shown in 

 its production, even in gardens where few other subjects obtain a fair 

 share of attention. Its exceeding usefulness explains its popularity, 

 and happily the plant is of an accommodating character. In the gardens 

 of the wealthy, Cucumbers are grown at -all seasons of the year ; in 

 medium-sized gardens, summer Cucumbers are generally deemed 

 sufficient, and there is no difficulty in growing an abundant and con- 

 tinuous supply of the finest quality. The winter cultivation demands 

 suitable appliances and skilful management ; but a very small house, 

 with an efficient heating apparatus, will suffice to produce a large 

 and constant supply, and therefore winter Cucumbers need not be 

 regarded as beyond the range of practice of any ordinary well-kept 

 garden. 



