CHAPTER XXI. 
WATER CRESS, BEANS, MELONS, MINT, POTATOES. 
The grouping of these five winter crops is artificial, and 
is a mere matter of convenience.. Beans and melons demand 
a tropical temperature for their quick development ; 65° and 
upward. Mint, potatoes and water cress require less forcing, 
but can be grown with profit under greenhouse conditions, if 
near good markets. Water cress is the most important one 
of the group, commercially speaking, at this time in the 
winter market at Philadelphia. 
WaTER Cress. The illustration shows the vegetable 
growing in water: it can be grown as well in the soil of a 
greenhouse bed. It 
is used in enormous 
quantities all the year 
in the large cities, be- 
ing served with meats 
} in the restaurants. 
The culture of 
water cress in brooks 
or near spring heads is 
well understood. It 
will grow anywhere in 
shallow, running water. Glass sashes placed over beds made 
at or near natural springs will make it possible to obtain 
fresh water cress all winter. 
It can be grown in forcing houses, as stated. The 
Philadelphia gardeners sow seed (True Erfurt) in October. 
It is put on the market in pint boxes, packed with the leaves 
uppermost. The boxes sell at ¢s5 to $7 per 100, wholesale. 
Successional plantings are made, so as to have a fresh supply 
all winter. 
WATER CRESS. 
87 
