The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1903-07-24
GROWING WATERCRESSES.
METHODS OF SOWING THE SEED-TREAT
MENT OF THE PLANT

Although watercress is common
weed in running streams throughout
the country, it is an unusual circum-
stance to meet with it in cultivation
anywhere save in the beds of those
who grow it for market. Yet it will
thrive to perfection in gardens, and
with little care the supply may be
kept up at all seasons, and while the
family is benefited by the free enjoy
ment of the salutary salad, its produc-
tion will prove a conatant source of
qualification to those engaged in its
growth. A simple method of growing
watercresses is to SOW the seed now
on fairly moist border, with north
ern aspect preferred. If shallow drills
are drawn between the rows of plants;
water may be supplied in these drills
without disturbing the young growths
which may easily be washed away if
water were poured Immediately upon
them. When the plants have grown
to the height of an inch or so they
should be thinned to about two inches
apart, and when they meet and begin
to overlap every alternate plant should
be withdrawn for the table. This will
constitute the first gathering, and will
leave the plants at four inches apart.
If, owing to the soil being rich and
water plentifully supplied, the plants
appear soon to become crowded, they
may be further thinned to eight inches
apart, and the Trimmings will constu-
tute the second, third or fourth gath
erings, after which there should be no
more plants withdrawn. The very
strong plants now remaining in the
bed may be topped as needful, and it
should be borne in mind that as top
ping checks the growth considerably
it should be carried on in systematic
manner, beginning at the end of the
bed and preceding regularly to the
other end, so that those first topped
may have time to recover and make
strong growth before being topped
again.
1t may be proper to say that water
cress seed may be sown at any time
from March to September, and the
late sowings kept by means Of such
protection as frame will afford. I'm
der artificial treatment the plant is
more tender than when growing in
stream, and exposure to severe frost
will result in the death of the plants,
unless they are covered with grass,
but slight frosts will do no harm what
ever. We will suppose that summer
is advancing, in which case the plants
may become wiry and run up to fow-
er. This natural consequence can on
ly be prevented by keeping the growth
showing signs of boiling cut black.
On the occasion of cooler weather
these older plants will make free
and fine growth from the bottom, and
supply the table again with crosses
through the autumn. Another plan
is to have succession of sowings, so
that there shall be young plants ready
for use when the early sowings are
pushing into bloom.
Another method is to SOW the seeds
at once, in box placed in shaded
part Of the greenhouse, and kept damp.
By March the seedlings should be ready
10 SET out about six inches apart on
well manured ground, and these, if
kept we'll watered during summer,
should soon cover the ground and af-
ford many pickings. They may also
be grown in pots and pans stood in
shaded corner. Filled with good loan
soil and kept in a saucer of clean rain
water, they will thrive without much
truble and produce an abundant sup
ply of tender crosses for length of
time. Put in the bottom about inches
of old mortar and rubble, filling up
with rough loamy material. If not
grown from seeds, cuttings may be
taken from a bundle bought at the
shop, but these must be fresh. Cut
them at joint, insert firmly, water
well, and keep them close and shaded
from hot sunshine until they liven up.
Watercress seeds can be obtained at
the seed shops at Cd per packet.
Those who cannot get on with water
cress on light dry soils should try
land crcss, which will grow anywhere
if scattered thinly. If is very pun.
gent, but if we'll watered the leaves re-
tanned their succulence for sometime,
and the more they are gathered the
more numerous become until the plant
spreads out like circular mat.
He-"If should kiss YOU what would