The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1885-11-14
WATER DRESSES.
How to Secure an Incidental Income With
out Much Trouble.

How to Secure an Incidental Income With
out Much Trouble.
Water-cress is a very desirable crop
for market as well as for home use,
under those conditions which favor its
growth. Its pleasant and pungcnt
flavor and its healthfulness make it
favorite condiment in the winter and
early spring, when other fresh green
fruit is scarce. 1t is an aquatic plant
and grows best in clear, running spring
water, although it may be grown in or
binary garden soil. Where the spring
water is so warm that it will not freeze
in the winter, and where the beds may
be covered with sashes, a very proiita-
bic winter crop may be cut, or, at least,
very early spring cutting can be
made, which will sell at high price.
As much as a dollar basket has been
the price in the winter season, and
seyenty-tive cents a basket is q com
mon price in the spring. The writer
has taken basket from one foot in
length of four-f0Ot ditch in one cut
ting; and this first crop repaid four
times over the whole cost of the plan
tation and the sashes which Gov
cred it. A wet swamp, with
sandy bottom, is an excel
lent place for plantation. bitches,
four feet wide and about eighteen
inches deep, are cut through the swamp
heading in the springs; and wherever
other springs are found along the
| course of the ditches it is advisable to
lay covered drains to them. so as to add
| to the supply of water. AS little fall as
possible should be made. with view to
preserving a sufficient depth of water
and constant current-enOugh to keep
| the water in motion. A space should
| be left on each side of the ditch of
| about one foot or more, to rest plank
upon for use in cutting the crop. 1t is
advisable, in digging the bitches, to
throw out the muck on one side only,
! unless the banks are needed to keep
out 1Ood-water. which may be the case
when the bitches arc used for rearing
brook trout-an addition to the culture
which is easy and profitable. The fish
| feed upon the insects and mollusks
which gather upon the cress and help
to keep the plants free from these
parasites anu cleah' IL Is necessary 10
nav the uIlcileS SnIoOVh ana level SO
| ViaI every part Shall oe kept coFeieu
VIII r wafer
10 Keep up IIie supply VI Water III
~, Seosoi' anu W s siiuU ouI nI8ii water
IN Iuo apLit? az" i"l, S"'e nay lIi9
H. 5iiS h Du,iT III VIC ,i'0a
ii'2 Iiioulu 10 0''De'''i'I any in''''' vi
~ ~ iiil'O': O!p"oi3. 'iooS cu'
" No. - 49, ~
.iio - ''.lio' "nloii ID 80 III my oou"o" III
vii1 a ool,oli !, V"" ~, ""r1l WI Iio' "olN
Gu1 Ui..tl tI,e SlIl Do"lu3 arc ulL' On s
uo~ Il lhto nv DotOoil Cl09GIy enough ~
It IN W. Nv oii' 'I'4 ,,''1S aic n" .el
70 Ine lL"llt II wren 'Ie S"lo ~ IiJl tI
n 9tlo"s 5"'4 Sio I;,., W u"l'' "V Ilie
ouVIe0 Vi INC "lOcl' 10 Keep ON
o"IN' ',Ool llo'il 'iiG s'' Gun VI suti''to
WaleI rom proved I"nu9' "Ii'ch "ou''
carry III i,u" ano SPol ',ie crop i"t inc
se"Son, as IIe 'eu ~ III Sle,l' p'3Ih
nilS Il! .Io "Dl'o"i anu u, IN'l9 up
"aru' IL Is 10 DC P'anIe4, Inc Plah,'
are cutChgs' WIN en- shouIa De cafeluII,
ihaue from oIo peoS, IheSe are puShcd
inVo the Sahu OF hlid, ABOUT a 1901 apart
each way all over Jhe peo' ana VIII
soon cover Jhe ground; or tne
pea may DC Seeuea ny sowing Ihe
Seea IN the lnuu' as lac uItch Is h''ie'
ana traInPihg 1t III. an easy way 10
cut tne dltch IS as ioioWS; me WORK
man oeglaS at me ouVIeI, ana IoIi0"I
no nor ''i,I' oaf l nr dom 70 ston tho