26o 



THE VEGETABLE GARDEN 



systematically, and usually very profitably. For this purpose 

 a portion of a meadow or pasture field is selected which has 

 a clear stream or rivulet running by or through it, and across 

 this portion, from one side to the other, a number of large 

 trenches are excavated. These are from about i6 to 20 ft. wide, 

 and about 13 ft. distant from one another, and are so arranged 

 that the water may run from one to another. This is managed 

 by having a slight difference in the level of the trenches, so that 

 tlie water may run out of each of them at the end opposite to 

 that at which it flowed in. Thus the water does not finally leave 

 the trenches until it has made a long serpentine course through all 

 of them. After the soil at the bottom of the trenches has been 

 properly dug and manured, the finest and strongest stems that can 

 be selected are pricked in with a dibble. The water is then let into 

 the trenches— just so much for a week or two as will cover the 

 cuttings — and the plants are not interfered with until they have 

 grown strong enough to allow the leaves to be gathered without 

 injury. After the plants are well established, and growing 

 vigorously, the leaves may be gathered all through the year, except 

 in very frosty weather, when the trenches should be flooded and 

 entirely submerged for the protection of the plants. 



Some growers plant the cuttings in a specially prepared ditch, 

 allowing t<he water to rise as the plants grow in length. When the 

 plants have grown 4^ to 7 in. in height, they are pulled up care- 

 fully with their roots and dropped singly into other trenches that 

 have been filled with water to about one-half their depth, some 

 well-decayed cow-manure being also dropped in at frequent 

 intervals. The plants, carried by the flowing water, collect at the 

 lower end of the ditch in close touch with the manure, when they 

 soon start into luxuriant growth. The water is then at its normal 

 height. 



In many cases sowing the seed will be found the best means of 

 propagation. The bottom of a small shallow trench is carefully 

 prepared for receiving the seed, which, being very small, is mixed 

 with some dry earth or sand sown broadcast and sHghtly raked in. 

 The soil is then cautiously watered and kept moist until the plants 

 show their first leaves, when the water is let in, but only so much 

 as will barely cover the plants. When a few inches high, the plants 

 are pulled up in small tufts and planted in other trenches, into 

 which water is admitted and kept steadily on a level with the tops 

 of the plants, until the ditch is completely filled. 



Plantations of the same kind, on a smaller scale, might be made 

 anywhere where there is a sufficient supply of pure freshwater. It 

 is not even absolutely necessary that it should be running water, if 

 it can be renewed often enough to keep it clear and pure. Water- 

 cress has been grown almost without water, by planting it in tubs 



