Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1871-05-06
Water Crosses.

Many things are sold IN our markets which
seem OF themselves of very little, Importance,
thousands Of dollars. The pungen. little herr.
water-cress, Is one OF these. It finds its wav {,
market from great number of localities, aud
ey various modes of conveyance, in 'dri billet. ;,
as the dealers say, and the trade is so irregular
that it is impossible to procure any stafistics
concerning it. Many farmer receives more
ready money from the crosses grown in the
brook that crosses his estate than he does from
all the rest of thefarm besides.
Inc water cress has become so well established
IN this country that it grows spontaneously in
many brooks and bitches. but the best quality
comes from cultivated patches. The character
OF the product is much affected by that OF m.
stream in which it grows. A sluggis stream,
with muddy bottom or one the waters OF which
are turbid, will yield cresses greatly inferior in
brightness and crispness 10 those grown in clear
streams that run over grayeilv bottoms.
Inc depth OF water most favorable is from
four to eight inches, and a deeper stream is fire.
quenty made to spTe al ont to form a broad aud
shallow one, while sometimes, where the water
NOT naturally deep enough, partial dams are
set In the current in order to get the proper
depth OF water. Also the plants, when thew
commence 20 grow, offer so much Resistance In
me current as to increase its depth very percer-
The stocking OF brook Is a simple operation.
The water-cress throws oct roots at every joiut,
ana an old stool may be broken up into great
humber OF fragments, each of which will make
new plant. The planting consists merely in
placing the fragments or sets IN the stream
with stone upon them OF sufficient weight 10
keep them in place.
In planting, the rows are placed in the flirec
uon OF the stream, and are from eighteen
incnes TO four or five feet apart, according to
the depth OF the water; the greater the depth
fhe wider apart are the rows. II is found tn
the plant grown in rows is much better In
Quality than that grown in irregular patches, As
the current the more readily carries OF foreign
matters which would become entangled with
anu inJure the appearance OF the plants; and
beelde this, the labor OF gathering Is much
reduced.
Water-cress may be grown from seed where
plants cannot be obtained. 1t is generally
recommended to scatter the seed along the mar.
gin of q stream This is An uncertain method of
securing start, and it L. much better to SOW
the seeds upon bed in situation where il can
be kept moist by frequent watering When the
plants become Of proper size they can be trans
ferred to the stream.
Water-cress may be grown upon garden soil
without stream, fit be kept continually mo,st.
but the plant thus produced Ia more tough and
Of less pleasant flavor. In the best Culture
the beds are renewed every year by replanting,
but In majority OF cases this Is not done.
In gathering the crop for market the cress is
always cut, as breaking it not only Injuries the
plant but the gathered portion lacks the neat
look which the cut cress has. The crosses when
CUT are put in compact handfuls into baskets,
which are shaped liked q peach basket, ami
basket varies greatly; early in the season thew
bring 81 so or q, and sometimes the returns are
70 low as TO hardly pay for the transportation
The season extends nom March thron Oh NAV
and there is more or less brought to market in
autumn Hearth aud Home.