CULTURAL DIRECTIONS 
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CORN SALAD (Valerianella olitoria) 
425. Character and uses. — This is an annual plant pop- 
ular in Europe. It finds limited sale in this country. The 
leaves have a mild flavor and are valued for salad pur- 
poses and greens, and the curly varieties for garnishing. 
As the plants are sensitive to heat, they are grown as a 
fall or spring crop. They are hardy and may be win- 
tered in the milder sections by protecting in cold frames, 
or with mulches where the winters are not too severe. 
Although the plants attain a height of nearly 2 feet, the 
young leaves are tender and delicious. Two crops may 
be gathered from the same plants in cool seasons. 
426. Culture.— The soil should be fertile and contain 
a bountiful supply of nitrogen. Dressings of nitrate of 
soda may be made to advantage. For the spring crop, 
sow in the open as soon as the ground can be prepared, 
or in the fall as for spinach. For the fall crop, sow late 
in the summer. The seed should be sown thinly in shal- 
low drills, 12 inches apart, the plants thinned to 6 inches. 
Irrigation is a great advantage in growing- this crop. 
The plants are ready for use in 40 to 50 days. 
CRESS 
The piquant leaves of cress are used in salads and for 
garnishing. Three common forms are in cultivation. 
They belong to different genera, but all are members 
of the Cruciferae or mustard family. 
427. Water Cress (Nasturtium officinale) is a hardy, 
perennial, aquatic plant popular on all our city markets. 
The leaves of the prostrate plants are small and round- 
ish. Water cress thrives best in shallow, running water 
which should be pure and clean. It may also be grown 
in moist or wet, shady places, but springs and brooks 
are preferable. With irrigation it is grown to perfec- 
