Literary JYotices. 307 



success of the first cultivator depended very much on his supplies of 

 spring water issuing from under the chalk formation in that neighbor- 

 hood. But his industry and skill contributed greatly to make the busi- 

 ness a profitable speculation. 



" A plant of this kind is cultivated in India, in rather an expensive 

 manner. It is called water-cress by the English residents, but whether 

 it be the Nasturtium officinale, English water-cress, the writer is un- 

 certain, as the plants were only very small seedlings when seen. The 

 plants are cultivated in the following manner : — A trench of any length 

 and about four feet wide is made in the ground about two feet deep. 

 Into this water and the finest of the earth is thrown and uiixed together, 

 forming thin puddle, till it is nearly as high as the edges of the trench. 

 Over the whole length and width'of the trench a shed or hovel is raised, 

 and thickly thatched with cocoa-tree leaves, but open on the side and 

 ends. The hovel finished, young plants are stuck in pretty thickly all 

 over the surface of the puddle, and as much water let on as just allows 

 the leaves to float. As this is quickly exhaled away, more is from time 

 to time added, to keep the surface always moist. In this shaded situa- 

 tion the pi uits iirow (|uickly, and soon come into use as a most accept- 

 able salad herb in that warm climate. It is only gentlemen of fortune, 

 however, who can treat themselves with such a luxury. 



" The anti-scorbutic powers of the water-cress constitute its principal 

 value as a condiment to food ; and as the plant jrrows plentifully in a 

 deep dell under a natural cascade in the Island of St. Helena, the crews 

 of ships touching at that island are sent on shore, for the purpose of 

 having a feast of this pleasant medicinal plant. 



" It but seldom happens that it is necessary to cultivate water-cresses 

 for private use ; because, wherever there is a stream of water, there the 

 plant is spontaneously found, and where there is no stream they cannot 

 be introduced. Stagnant pools are unsuitable; for though the plant will 

 grow, they are neither so clean nor so palatable. For the supply of 

 cities or large towns, however, wherever a branch of a river can be 

 appropriated to the purpose, or even where a constantly wet part of a 

 meadow could be formed into a shallow channel for the growth of 

 water-cresses, the space so occupied would be, without doubt, as profit- 

 able as any other portion of the land." 



Art. III. Literary J^otices. 



The Suburban Gardener, by J. C. Loudon, Esq., F. L. S. 

 &c., is to appear in December next. Illustrated by numerous 

 engravings on wood. The whole intended as a complete gar- 

 dening book for such as are not professed gardeners. It is to 

 contain as follows : — 



1. Directions for choosing a House and Garden in a town or 

 its suburbs, with some Plans for Street Houses, and Suburban 

 Cottages and Villas. 2. Designs for laying out Small Gardens, 



