Water Cress. 



Cultural Directions. — 235 



or moist soil, and after once being introduced, will thrive in 

 almost any small stream of clear, cold water, ditch or pond, 

 without care or culture. On account of the pleasant pungency 

 and hygienic properties of the leaves, it is highly esteemed as a 

 table delicacy, and extensively grown for "^ 



market near all the larger cities. It makes 

 a superior salad, and fine material for garnish- 

 ing. To introduce it in any stream or body 

 of water, sow seed or a few cuttings or pieces 

 of root in the mud, along the margin, and it 

 will increase rapidly, often entirely overrunning 

 ditches and small brooks. Flooding is the 

 best winter protection. 

 Gather and market in 

 spring. It also grows 

 well on a moist green- 

 house bench, and on any 

 upland that can be kept 

 continuously moist. 



Upland Cress, Amer- 

 ican Cress. — Barbarca 

 praccox ; German, Amcr- 

 ikaniscJie WmUr Krcsse ; 

 French, Cresson de terre. 

 — Native biennial of 

 Pvurope, resembling 

 Water Cress in taste, Upland Cress, 



and used for seasoning and garnishing. Easily grown from seed. 

 I have no high opinion of it, and do not recommend it 



CUCUMBER. 



Ciicumis Sativus. German, Gurke ; French, Conconibre ; 



Spanish, Cohombro. Under heading of " Cold Forcing Houses " 

 (Chapter XIII) I have already alluded 

 to cucumbers as a profitable crop for 

 T culture under glass. Otherwise the bulk 

 '^ of cucumbers and pickles grown for 

 market is produced in the farm garden 

 rather than the market garden, simply 

 because the market gardener has not 

 sufficient space. Almost any kind of 

 well-drained soil will produce cucum- 

 bers, provided it is rich enough, or made 

 so. Young clover sod is good. The 



selection of new ground — wide crop rotation — is always a good 



precautionary measure, and liable to lessen the dangers from 



insect and disease attacks. 



