CRESSES. 269 



earthing, and blanching, reference may be had to 

 Bridgeman, Fessenden, or Loudon. Celery affords 

 a striking proof of what culture can effect on a 

 plant, as few things are more unlike than the much- 

 esteemed celery and common smallage or smellage, 

 tlie original plant. 



CHIVES or GIVES. Allium Schceno^rasum. 

 This is a hardy perennial plant, a small species 

 of onion, and a native of several European coun- 

 tries. It grows in tufts, and is propagated by divi- 

 ding these tufts or by offsets from the roots, and 

 these, planted either in spring or in autumn, in rows 

 along beds or borders, will take root, and soon in- 

 crease into bunches or tufts as large as desired. It 

 will last without dividing three or four years, when 

 the tufts must be renewed by a farther separation. 

 As it is very early in its growth, it is much esteem- 

 ed by many as a salad. 



Cresses are of two kinds, the common Garden 

 Cress, Lapidium Sativum, and the Water Cress, Sy- 

 iijmbrium Nasturtium. The first is a small salad 

 herb of two varieties, of which the most common is 

 called peppergrass. It must be sown in drills very 

 thick, and, in order to furnish a constant supply, 

 may be sown every week. It must be used while 

 young to have it in perfection. Cress can be grown 

 in a few hours by making the vessels containing the 

 seed part of a galvanic circle ; and is sometimes 

 grown in porous earthenware vessels of a pyramidal 

 form, on the sides of which gutters are made for the 

 reception of seed. This is placed on the table, and 

 the cresses gathered at pleasure. The Water Cress 

 grows in streams and in clear springs, and in such 

 places may be cultivated readily by transplanting. 

 It is grown extensively for the London markets, and 

 is an early and very healthy vegetable for salads. 



