The Sun.
London, England, 1846-02-26 00:00:00

WATER CRESS.

Most persons are acquainted with the water-cress and
its salutary properties ; they know generally that it
grows in brooks, and on the borders of fresh and run-
ning streams. Few, however, of those who, in the busy
thoroughfares or quiet suburbs of London, hear the cry
of "water cre-e-ses," or see in their daily walks the old,
red-cloaked women sorting the little bundles at the cor-
ners of streets, have any idea that the cultivation of this
esculent now forms an important branch of horticultural
and commercial industry, which, from the increasing
consumption, and use made of the plant in pharmacy, is
gradually rising into consequence. In the present day,
the water-cress may be found on almost every table, from
the highest to the lowest. It is one of the most
powerful antiscorbutics with which we are ac-
quainted, and is said to possess the property of exciting
the appetite and fortifying the stomach. We have no
certain information that it is cooked in any part of Eng
land, as is occasionally the case in France ; but in the
north of Germany, to which country we owe its original
cultivation, it is boiled and eaten as spinach. In an old
botanical work, we are told that the watery part of
Tuthill-fields, Westminster, was overrun with water-
cress, and that it grew on the banks of the Thames in
several places. The same work also enumerates many
places in England where this refreshing vegetable was
abundant ; and it is known that, like many other of the
simple but useful productions of nature, which, in their
natural varieties, abound wherever they may be
benficial to man, it is to be found in most parts
of the world. It is of the cruciferous family, which
comprehends about twenty species, all possessing high
antiscorbutic properties, and of the genus nasturtium,
"said to have been so called from the effect its acrimony
produces on the muscles of the nose—nasus tort us— sig-
nifying a convulse nose." The common cress is
known as nasturtium officinak, and presents two
varieties, the green and the blue, which, by cultivation,
have been rendered far superior to what they were in
their wild state, being less acrid, and not so liable to
contract the taste of slime and mud as these found in
ditches and marshes. Fifty years ago, a considerable
proportion of the supply that found its way to the metro-
politan market was gathered from the numerous little
streams which intersect the meadows near the towns of
Newbury and Hungerford, in the county of Berkshire,
from which places it was brought in sacks by the stage-
coachmen of the day, who shared in the profits of the
sale. The first attempts at regular cultivation in the
neighbourhood of London, appears to have been made in
the year 1808, at Springhead, a village near Gravesend.
This plantation still exists, and is sometimes visited by
the frequenters of the welf•known semi-watering-place
just mentioned, for the purpose of regaling themselves
with a fresh-plucked salad and bread and butter. Another
plantation was afterwards 'commenced in Surrey, but
subsequently abandoned. The culture, however, con-
tinued to spread, particularly in localities favourably,
situated with regard to springs of water. Near Rick-
mansworth, in Hertfordshire, where there is a fine
stream running over a chalky bottom, there are now
about fifteen acres under cultivation. The Springhead
plantation consists of four acres, while on the opposite
side of the Thames, at Waltham Abbey, in Essex, is
another of six acres. These, though extensive, are in-
sufficient to meet the demand of the huge metropolis.
Other supplies are obtained from greater distances.
From Uxbridge and Salisbury great quantities are for-
warded to London, packed in hampers, every day in the
year excepting Sundays; and some idea may be formed
f the enormous consumption from the sum total of the
annual sales, which amounts to more than 10,000/.—
Chambers.

Mr: J. C. Colquhoun • has been defending his consis-
tency on the corn-laws, by informing the House of Com-
mons that, notwithstanding his vote for Mr. Villiers' mo-
tion, his present opinions are identically the same as those
he expressed to the electors of Kilmarnock in 1837. In
1837, Mr. Colquhoun declared himself in favour of a fixed
duty, to be afterwards removed altogether. This is sub-
stantially the very proposal of Sir Robert Peel, which Mr.
Colquhoun is now so bitterly resisting 1 We may return to
the subject on the next opportunity, but: are in some doubt
whether it would not be mere waste to throw water on a
rat so irrecoverably drowned.—/filmarnvek Herald.
THE LEAGUE QUARTER OF A MILLION FUND.-
Some of the London papers have a long advertisement of the
subscriptions to the great League Fund, which is in continua-
tion of a former one containing subscriptions to the amount
of 72,7381. 16s. This advertisement, exclusively of these
amounts, and putting in a single line all subscriptions under
61. each, the , total of which is 7 854/, yet extends to six
columns in length, and the total of all the subscriptions thus
advertised is stated to be 168,087/. From many places no
list of subscriptions has been transmitted, or will be, till the
local committees transmit the collection of the first instal-
ment thereon ; so that probably the total amount really sub-
scribed exceeds 180,0001.—Manchester Guardian .

FACTORY INFORMATION AT HA SLINGDEN.—At Has-
lingden petty sessions, ou Friday, before William Turner,
Esq. and the Rev. Mr. Grey, Mr. Beal, one of her Majesty's
sub-inspectors of factories, brought an information against
John Knowles, the manager of Mr. Richard Ashworth's
mill, at Hall Carr, for not sending a notice to the certifying
also convictedacosts,
for 2/ . and
s g
r 9
surgeon, of a worker in the factory having received a
bodily injury, as required by the 'Act ; he was convicted
in 2/. and costs.—The firm of Messrs. George and John
Ashworth, of Bridge
Hays idgeMill, was
fined 5s
n d
cost', for employing two children without properschools
at
was
neglect in his son's not attending school, the father
receiv-
ing a benefit in the child's wages. Peggy
Warburton was
committed to gaol for one week, for using a false baptismal
register, to obtain employment fs•r her child for the long
hours, and thereby depriving the child of attending the
school. And Richard Barnes was committed to gaol for a
fortnight, for falsifying a certificate of baptism for the same
purpose.-11/anchester Guardian.
INDIAN CORN BREAD.—This forenoon at half-past
one o'clock, a large party of influential merchants and other
principa • l citizens assembled in the Assembly Rooms, Ingram-
street, on the invitation of Mr. Cowdin, the United States
Consul, in Glasgow, for the purpose of hearing him explain,
and illustrate by specimens, the various forms in which
maize or Indian corn can be made available for human
food. The fittings used at the Bachelor's ball
on the preceeding evening had been left standing,
and an elegant cold collation was set out on the tables. On
the motion of Mr. Henry Brock, Bailie Brodie was called
to the chair, and opened the proceedings in a few brief but
appropriate remarks. Mr. Cowdin then proceeded to address
the company assembled, explaining the prodigious capacities
of America to supply food not only to her own citizens, but for
those of other countries. Specimens of two forms of bread were
then produced, hot from the oven of Mr. Forrester. The first was
a loaf baked from three pounds of corn-meal, and weigh-
ing, when it came from the oven, 31b 6oz. The other was
what is commonly called in America a " Johnny cake."
The former was a palatable, solid article, but seemed to be
considered by the company rather damp and heavy. The
Johnny cake was much lighter, and was generally
greatly preferred to the other, and pronounced an
excellent species, of bread. A specimen of Indian corn
pudding was also exhibited. It is, we believe, prepared
with molasses, and is extremely palatable. In the course of
the proceedings the health of the Queen was proposed by
the chairman, and that of President Polk, by Mr. Alexander
Graham of Lancefield. The health of Mr. Cowdin having
been drunk, and good wishes expressed that the benevolent
object contemplated by him might be promoted, the meeting
broke up.—Glasgow Saturday Post.
__ - -

Houits OF FACTORY LABOUR.—MEETING OF MASTER
SPINNERS, YESTERDAY.—The master spinners held another
meeting yesterday afternopn, at three o'clock, at the offices
of Messrs. J. and W. Heron, solicitors to the association.
The meeting was a tolerably numerous one. Mr. R. J.
Greg presided. The subject of shortening the hours of
labour to eleven daily was discussed at considerable length,
and opinions were very much divided as to its practicability
and expediency. The general impression ultimately ap-
peared to be, that it was desirable to wait till the fate of the
ministerial measures, now under the consideration of the
Legislature, should be known ; and the meeting at length
adjourned, about a quarter before five o'clock, to Tuesday
next.—Manchester Guardian,
IMPORTS OF LIVE CATTLE IN 1845. By the Par-
liamentary return, No. 68, dated 19th instant, we find that
during the year ended the sth of January, 1846, the follow-
ing were the numbers and description of live cattle and other
animals imported into the United Kingdom :—Oxen and
bulls, 9,782; cows, 6,502; calves, 586; sheep, 15,847;
lambs. 112; swine and hogs, 1,598; total head of all kinds,
34,426.
HEALTH OF MR. CoBDEN, M.P.—We regret to learn
that the Honourable Member for Stockport is still confined to his re-
sidence in Connaught-terrace, Edgeware-road, although better than
he has been for several days. _ _

Ou Tuesday, so great was the supply of mackerel in
the markets, that they were sold In Clare-market and other placos at
eiz and tight for a Wiling.