New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-06-05
wATERCRESS FOR MARKET
COW 4 REGULARLY ORGANIZED INDUS
TRY is CARRIED ON.
srerAms PLANTED WITH THE HERB. TO
BE CUT ALL THE YEAR RouND-DiS-
DOSING OF IT IN THE CITY.

=, ;e not generally known that the raising N
.-o,arcress for the city markets is regularly
.,canizcd industry carried on all the year
,ound and possessing many interesting and
.ocu,iar features which distinguish ii entirely
,,om ordinary market gardening. Most people
.re familiar with the herb only as it appears
mon their tables to garnish meats or other
dishes. as a salad and in watercress sandwiches.
7, they have ever given a thought as 10 how
q grows. they doubtless believe that it las been
gathered from some country stream where it
INNS wild brought to market and sold to the
.,ocers and other dealers small portion Of
n NAV arrive in this way. but by far the great
=, mart comes from watercress ponds OF beds.
vhere the ground is prepared ard kept especial
~ for the raising Of the plant. Several mar
ketmen in this city deal to considerable extent
IN watercress. but there is only one firm which
makes 1t it's entire business. that Of Soltau 4
Raker. in Washington st. This firm owns or
controls watercresS beds in New-Jersey. Penn
sylyania Maryland. Virginia and West Vir-
enia-an extent Of territory which insures a
constant supply at all seasons of the year AL
together these beds cover area of fifty acres.
but the sizes of the ponds vary greatly. ranging
from quarter OF an acre up TO ten acres. The
latter however is exceptionally large for
watercress pond. and there are few. If any.
others like it in the country.
There are so many considerations to be borne
tn mind when choosing location for planting
yatercress that after few OF them are men,
TONED it will easily be seen why the patches
are necessarily small and scattered over VIDE
extent Of country Since 1t Is plant winch
grows only when submerged in running water.
the first requisite for starting bed Is gooo'
unfailing spring. This spring must be so STU
ated that it flows gently, down slight incline
or out upon level ground. covering reasonably
wide bed 1t is often possible to turn it in the
desired direction. and TO excavate the ground
somewhat TO widen the natural oeo-
Swift rushing mountain streams. tumDlihg over
rocks or flowing down steep inclines, are entire
" unsuitable The temperature OF the wafer
should be about 50 or 80 degrees. and it has
been found that water containing lime IS bel
ter suited than any other for the favorable
growth Of the plant. This Is one reason Tor
the establishment Of the beds in Southern Penn
sylvania Maryland and Virginia. where the
ground consists Of limestone formations. and has
an abundance Of these moderately warm
springs the temperature OF which never falls
throughout the entire year. no matter how cold
the weather
STREAMS THAT WON'T GROW cREsS
II ia curious fact that some streams. which
have apparently no peculiarities 20 distinguish
them from others nevertheless will not raise
watercress Mr. Baker tells II stream In
Western Pennsylvania which seemed in every
way favorable for the purpose, and which ne
congratulated himself upon having discovered
But after a short time it was noticed that the
MIA ad
was surprised but thought the trouble was with
the plants and substituted others Of a different
stock The same result followed and after try
Ing five varieties from many different states
be gave the mysterious spring UP in despair
II is not customary TO plant the cress from
seed. because in that case 1t takes year OF
more before it is ready to yield for the mar
ket so young plants are set out. and these are
ready 70 be cut in from three 70 six months
The rapdity with which the watercress spreads
as 1t grows may be appreciated from the state
ment that square yard of the plants As they
are first set out will have developed by the ume
they are ready for cutting into from 1--WE TO
eight square yards After it is planted the
watercress needs certain amount Of care In
order TO keep weeds other foreign matter
from cogging up the stream and preventing the
even gentle now Of the water over the growing
plants Freshets must be guarded against. also
especially in the spring. and the ever present
muskrat adds a third destructive element from
which the ponds must be protected. The dam
age that he does is chiefly in the way Of digging
holes and undermining the banks and beds OF
the streams. thereby letting the water out ana
leaving the plants uncovered. The amount OF
the watercress that he eats does not amount TO
anything Several hundred dollars year Is