Page:Willich, A. F. M. - The Domestic Encyclopædia (Vol. 2, 1802).djvu/117

97&#93; C R l ... b u, v t r than that of mustard-seed. Water-cresses arc universally used and eaten as an early and wholesome spring salad. Being an excellent antiscorbutic and stomachic, they arc nearly al- lied to scurvy-grass, but do not i great a degree of acri- mony. They are also supposed to purity the blood and humours, and to open visceral obstructions. '1. The amphibium, or Radish- Water-cress, growing in watery places, and on the banks of rivers. !t is perennial, and produces yel- low flowers, which blow from June to August. Its roots may be used as a substitute for common ra- dishes. Sheep and goats do not relish this plant, and it is never touched by cows. 3 . The Sophia, or Flix- weed Wa- ter-cress, which is found on old walls, and among rubbish. It is annual, and bears yellow flowers, in July, which are succeeded by long, stiff", crooked pods, contain- ing yellow seeds : these remain in their capsules the whole winter, and not only support the small birds during that inclement season, but have occasionally been em- ployed with success, as a vermi- fuge. The plant is eaten by cows and sheep ; but is not relished ei- ther by horses, goats, or hogs. CRICKET, anexercise or game, performed with bats and a ball. This sport was formerly confined solely to the labouring class of peo- ple, but is now becoming daily more fashionable among those, whose rank and fortune entitle their countrymen to expect a very dif- ferent conduct.. Although we have, on all occa- sion-;, enjoined proper muscular exercise, yet we strongly reprobate that of cricket, which is in all re- no, v. — VOL. II. C R I Wi speeds too violent, and, from the po- sitions into which players must tie- lily throw themselves, cannot fail to be productive of frequent in- jury to the body. Indeed, we have witnessed several melancholy acci- dents which lately happened in our neighbourhood ; and disloca- tions of the hip-joint, in particular, are by no means uncommon, from the aukward posture occasioned by employing both arms, at the same time, in striking a distant object. We trust the time is not very re- mote, when this game, like that of pugilism, will be utterly exploded by all who possess a correct taste, and have any regard for their con- stitution, as well as their respec- tive situation in life. CRICKET, the Common, or Hearth-cricket, Gryllus domes ticu s L. an inseft which delights in new- built houses, where the moisture and softness of the mortar enable it to penetrate between the joints of the bricks or stones, and thus to open communications to dif- ferent rooms. Crickets have a great partiality for kitchens and bakers ovens, on account of the continual warmth to be found in those places. They are known by their lively, chirping notes, performed by a sudden fric- tion of their wings, or by striking them against their hind-legs : this noise, however, is peculiar to die males, and increases towards night, when they leave their secret haunts. The female deposits her yellowish eggs in the earth, or rubbish, whence the insects emerge in twelve days, and attain their full growth in six or eight weeks, after having tour times changed their coat-. To- wards the latter end of the sum- mer, they are observed to fly ; .a circu mitance which accounts for H their