366 The Principles of Vegetable- Gardening 



its growth. Late in the season and in warm weather, 

 the plant runs quickly to seed. For fall use, the seeds 

 may be sown late in summer and in early fall. It is 

 easily grown in pots or boxes in the house in winter. 



Fig. 109. Curled cress seedlings. Two-thirds natural size. 



Leaves fit for use may be had in six to eight weeks from 

 the sowing of the seed, under ordinary conditions. 

 There are a number of varieties, some of them with 

 beautifully curled foliage. The garden cress is less pop- 

 ular in America than abroad. 



The upland or upright cress (Barbarea vulgaris and 

 B.prcecox) is usually a biennial, the young plants becom- 

 ing established from seeds dropped in summer, and send- 

 ing up the flower-stalks early the following spring. In 

 cultivation, it is treated as an annual or as a winter per- 

 ennial. The seeds may be sown late in the season and 

 the young plants are ready for use the following spring; 

 or seeds may be sown in earliest spring. The plant is 

 perfectly hardy and it is common in the natural state 

 over a large part of the United States. Although a com- 

 mon plant, it is little known in general cultivation either 

 in this country or abroad. 



