CRESS. 127 



CRESS. 



There are several different kinds of plants that are 

 known by this common name. The one that is called wa- 

 ter cress (see Fig. 18) is the greater favorite, especially 

 in our section. The best place for planting water cress 

 is some running stream that has a firm or more or less 

 solid bottom. Such little feeders as are supplied by 

 springs will be found to be the best. A small stream 

 that is subject to floods during rainy weather will not 

 be suitable, as the plants are liable to be washed away. 

 A single spring will prove a sufficient area to supply 

 all the cress that a family will want to use. 



The sowing is very simple ; it amounts to nothing 

 but dropping the seed in a moist place. The best time 

 for this is during September, October or November. 

 A ten cent package will yield all the cress that several 

 families will care to use. After a little patch is once 

 established it will continue for a very long time, but 

 sooner or later, from various reasons, it will have to 

 be sown again or replanted. There is no extensive 

 market for this product, and yet there are hundreds of 

 families in our section of the country who would be 

 glad to have it. All that is necessary in preparing it 

 for the table is to see that the branches that have been 

 cut off are thoroughly washed and freed from dirt. It 

 is usually eaten with salt. It is most excellent when 

 prepared as a salad. 



FIG. 18. 



