The Kitchen Garden. 107 



5. The Pepper — Capsicum Annum. 

 The pepper is a tropical plant, but may easily be matured in 

 tbe open air in this climate. It is better, however, to start the 

 plants in a hot-bed, if practicable, and transplant in May or 

 June. A warm situation and a light, rich soil suit it best. 

 The plants should stand in rows eighteen inches apart, and a 

 foot apart in the rows. Earth them up a little in cultivation. 

 The Bell or Sweet is the best for pickhng. The Cayenne is 

 more used in its ripe state as a seasoning. 



6. Okra — Hibiscus Esculentus. 

 This vegetable, which belongs to the natural family of the 

 cotton plant, was introduced from the West Indies, and is much 

 cultivated in the Southern States. It is often called gumbo 

 (Fr. gombo)^ and is used as an ingredient in stews and soups. 

 It is cultivated to a considerable extent in Kew Jersey, and 

 may be produced still farther north. A light, dry soil is best 

 suited to it. Plant in drills three feet apart, scattering the 

 seeds sparsely, and thin out to eighteen inches apart in the 

 drill. It requires careful culture in a northern climate. Hoe 

 very frequently, and keep the ground free from weeds. The 

 pods must be gathered while quite green and tender. They 

 may be cut into thin slices and dried for winter use. 



7. Khubaeb — Elieum Ehaponticum. 



Khubarb, sometimes called pie-plant, although it has been 

 cultivated to a small extent for centuries, and used for medic- 

 inal purposes, has not till quite recently been popularly appre- 

 ciated. It certainly deserves a place in every garden. It is a 

 native of Asia. Myatt's Victoria, Myatt's Linnseus, Buist's 

 Early Ked, and Downing's Colossal are all excellent varieties. 



The soil for rhubarb should be a light loam, rich, and moder- 

 ately moist. Bone-dust and guano are excellent special ma- 

 nures for it. 



Ehubarb is propagated either by seeds or by division of the 

 roots. The latter is, in ordinxiry cases, the preferable method. 



