3?0 CULTIVATED VEGETABLES. 



WATER-CRESS. -NASTURTIUM AQUA- 



TICUM. 



Natural order, Siliqiiosce. A genus of the 

 Tetradynamia Siliculosa class. 



This species of the numerous family of the 

 cress is not only the most agreeable, but the 

 most wholesome of the nasturtium tribe. We 

 may emblematically compare it to friends, 

 who visit us in the hour of affliction, and are 

 retarded neither by the fear of contagious 

 disease, nor repelled by the more chilling dis- 

 aster of poverty ; for this aquatic plant waits 

 not for the splendour of the warmer sun, 

 which produces vegetable offerings as nu- 

 merous as the friends who crowd about those 

 on whom prosperity shines. It visits us singly 

 in a dreary season, and proffers its service 

 without requiring a return of attention or 

 manure. It rides the driven flood regard- 

 less of the piercing blast of Boreas, and offers 

 its abstersive leaves through the congealed 

 waters. 



The ancients ate cress with their lettuce 



