78 



THE GAME BREEDER 



-leaves and small white flowers (Fig. 

 18). The leaves consist of 3 to 9 sym- 

 metrically arranged oval or roundish 

 segments, of which the apical of each 

 leaf is the largest. The pods vary from 

 one-half to one and one- fourth inches in 

 length, are slightly curved, and contain 

 numerous small seeds. There is a con- 

 stant succession of flowers and pods 

 throughout the growing season. The 

 plant sometimes is strongly tinged with 

 olive-brown, suggesting one of its com- 

 mon names, brown-cress. Other names 

 ^re well-cress or -grass, water-kers, 

 -kars, -karse, or -grass, crashes and 

 brook-lime. 



Water-cress occurs practically through- 

 out the United States. 



Water-cress usually is propagated by 

 seed. This may be obtained from most 

 seedsmen. The plant is also easily 

 transplanted by cuttings. It grows in 

 springs, brooks, small streams and shal- 

 low ponds. Waters in which it is found 

 are usually cool and have some current. 

 It may be sown in similar situations at 

 any time during spring or summer. 



Water- Weed. 



Evidence for the value of water-weed 

 is of the same nature as for water-cress. 

 The density and luxuriance of its growth 

 are such that water-weed maintains its 

 stand even when fed upon daily by a 

 large number of ducks. Small quanti- 

 ties of the plant have been found in 

 stomachs of the mallard, blue-winged 

 teal and goldeneye. 



Water- weeds (Figs. 19 and 20) have 

 long, branching stems with luxtiriant 

 foliage and are of a beautiful translucent 

 green color. The leaves which are set 

 upon the stem in whorls of from 2 to 4 

 (usually 3), vary from ovate to strap- 

 shaped, and may be pointed or obtuse, 

 and are sometimes finely toothed. They 

 are from one-fourth to one inch or more 

 in length and from one-twelfth to one- 

 eighth of an inch in width. The small 

 flowers are borne on rather long stalks 

 and open at the surface of the water. 

 The fruit, which is rare, is few seeded 

 and ripens under water. 



This plant was introduced into Great 



Fig. i8 — Water-cress. 



