132 GAKDEN PLANTS. PART IT. 



sand. This answers two purposes. The water given to the plants 

 will immediately sink down through the sand to the roots, 

 where it is alone wanted ; and the main stem of the root will 

 not be induced to form fibres on its sides. . The roots will be 

 ready for use in about four or five months' time. 



This plan may seem troublesome, but it is not very much 

 so in reality. The Horse-radish, however, may be grown like 

 any other ordinary plant, by merely putting out the plants in 

 a good soil, on a high piece of ground, at the distance of a foot 

 or more apart. 



Lepidium sativum. 



CRESS. 



Hdleem. 



Cress-seed may be sown in the open ground when the Eains 

 cease in October. It is best to sow only a small quantity at a 

 time, and to keep up a succession of sowings, at short intervals, 

 during the Cold season. As the malees rarely cut it for use till 

 it is three or four inches high, it is as well to sow it broadcast, 

 and rather thinly. 



If, however, it be required to be eaten, as is usual in England, 

 when little more than the seed-leaves are formed, it may be 

 raised at nearly all times in the year. It is best in that case 

 to make the sowings in large shallow pans, filled with good 

 light soil. The soil should be well watered, and the seed then 

 scattered thickly over its surface. Over the pan a covering 

 should be placed till the seed germinates, and then be removed. 

 In a few days the cress will be fit for cutting. 



In order to save seed, in the early part of the Cold season 

 plants in the open ground at about six inches apart should be 

 reserved. These by the commencement of the Hot season will 

 yield a plentiful supply of seed, which should be carefully 

 stored away for future use. 



Brassica oleracea. 



CABBAGE. 



The varieties of Cabbage cultivated in Europe are very 

 numerous ; but between many of them there is scarcely a per- 



