80 



CRESS, WATER. 



crusted with sugar, are sold by the confectioners under the 

 name of coriander comfits. They are also used in the bitter 

 infusions and preparations of senna, the disagreeable taste 

 of which they completely overcome, and for various other 

 purposes, both by druggists and distillers. 



CRESS, WATER. — Sisymhrium nasturtium. — A genus of 

 plants, of which the principal is the common water-cress, 

 found in springs and brooks. It is perennial, and produces 

 white flowers that are in bloom in June or July. Lasteyrie 

 tells us, that, in Germany, great pains are taken to propagate 

 the water-cress, and gives the following account of their 

 mode ofdoingit: The water,'' says he, " most favourable for 

 its production, is that in which it grows naturally, and which 

 in winter preserves heat enough to prevent it from freezing. 

 The situation on which to form a cress plantation ought to 

 have a little slope or inclination, because water in a state 

 of repose, alters the flavour of the plant. Having chosen 

 the place, it is formed into heights and hollows alternately . 

 the latter are destined for the cresses, and the former for the 

 culture of other plants. The size of the hollows is made to 

 depend on the quantity of water you can bring into them, 

 and the demand for the article to be raised. If the soil of 

 the hollows is not sufficiently rich, better earth must be 

 brought to amend it, and if the bottom be marshy, you 

 throw over it some inches of sand. Your next step is to 

 cover it with water for some hours, after which you drain 

 and sow or plant. At the end of a few days, you let in the 

 water, and drain as before, and continue these processes un- 

 til the cresses appear, if sown, or until they have taken root, 

 if planted. The quantity of water let in is always to be 

 regulated by the growth of the plant ; for, though it cannot 

 live but in water, it will not bear to be long covered with it. 

 Planting is always surer than sowing, and is therefore pre- 

 ferred. The epoch for this is either March or August. The 

 distance between the plants should not be less than ten or 

 fifteen inches. Moving tKe earth about their roots with the 

 hoe, from time to time, is useful ; but for the rest, (having 

 once taken root,) no farther care is necessary. A cress 

 plantation is in full bearing the second year, and lasts a 

 long time. When it begins to fail, it may be renewed by 

 taking off a foot of the surface soil of the old beds and 

 replacing it with good and fresh earth. In winter, the beds 

 are covered more deeply vAth water, which protects the 

 plant against the frost," 



