I.HINDI OR LADY'S FINGERS 



HIBISCUS 



ESCULENTUS 

 Ochro 



.m's chemical investigations into the properties of thu fibre, pub- 

 !ihcd in the Imperial Institute Tecfnm-nl Re.partt, aa also the further 

 particulars afforded in The Agricultural Isdgtr, will be found iiM-ful an.i 



-ting. Apparently the samples of Bimlipatam jute were found of 

 value than the best Bengal jute. In the subsequent investigations 

 into tins fibre it was found to be prepared on an extensive seal*- in a factory 

 at ( hittavalsa in Yi/ugapatam, as also exported from Bengal to some 

 extent, under the name of mesta pat. Comparing a sample of true jute 

 with an authenticated sample of Deccan hemp and a good average speci- 

 men of Bimlipatam jute, it was found that the percentage of cellulose was 

 nearly the same in all three. The last two were superior to ordinary jute 

 in the smaller loss in mercerising and the larger increase in weight on 



ion. The reports therefore conclude that Bimlipatam jute (i.e. 

 Deccan hemp) is deserving of attention. 



The seeds yield a clear and limpid oil, and have been sent to England on. 

 as an OIL-SEED. They are used in Poona as a cattle food, and the leaves 



aten as a VEGETABLE. 



[Cf. Jacob. Bontius, in Piso, 2nd. Utri. re Nat. et Med., 1658, 113 ; Milburn, 

 Or. Comm., 1813, ii., 210 ; Wissett, Treatise on Hemp, 23 ; Pharmacog. Ind., i., 



: Basu, Agri Lohardaga, 1870, 73 ; Kew Bull., 1891, 204 ; 1898 (add. ser., 



11 ; Text. Journ., Oct. 1893, 12-3 ; Rept. Ind. Hemp Drugs Comm., 1894, 



i., 80; iii., 107; Agri. Ledg., 1896, No. 11, 84-5; No. 37, 393; 1903. No. 11, 



\ ; Dodge, I.e. 192; Mukerji, Handbook Ind. Agri., 1901, 304-6; Mollison, 



-.k Ind. Agri., 1901, iii., 227-8; Imp. Inst. Tech. Repts., 1903, 69-71, 86-8 ; 

 Joret, Lea. PI. dans VAntiq., etc., 1904, ii., 276; Capital, June 22, 1905, 1142; 

 July (i, 1!05, 8 ; Ann. Rept. Agri. Dept. (all provinces) ; Board of Trade Journ., 

 S,-jir. 7, 1905 (the fibre Canhamo of Rio de Janeiro). 



H. esculentus, Linn. ; Rec. Bot. Surv. Ind., ii., 84 ; iii., 28, 178. The 



Edible Hibiscus, Lady's Fingers ; ochro or okra, of the West Indies, bhindi, 



nis (or dheras), rdmturdi, bendekai, vendaik-kay, youn-padi-si, tindisa, 



etc. A tall herb, cultivated throughout India and naturalised in all 



tropical countries. De Candolle regards it as of African origin. 



It is largely cultivated by the Natives of India as a garden crop for 

 the sake of its FRUIT. It should be sown from April to June in nurseries, 

 and transplanted when about 3 inches high. Weeding should be done 

 regularly all through the period of growth to keep the soil loose and open. 

 As a field crop successful cultivation largely depends on rich manuring 

 of the soil. Two varieties, an early and a late, are grown in Bombay, 

 both being sown in June. The acre rate of seed varies from 5 to 10 Ib. 

 and the seed is sown at intervals of about a foot, on ridges three feet apart. 

 The early variety bears fruits from about August to September, while 

 the late does so from the end of September to November. 



In Madras, the early crop is sown in the first week of March and 

 gathered in the first week of July ; the late crop is sown in the latter part 

 i >f .July and gathered in towards the end of December. The yield of 

 fruit per acre varies from 5,000 to 6,000 Ib. The cost of cultivation is 

 said to average about Rs. 5 per acre, and the profit about Rs. 9. The 

 bast yields a white FIBRE which is long, silky, strong and pliant, and 

 composed of fine individual threads. The breaking strain is 79 pounds 

 dry, and 95 wet. In colour and texture it resembles hemp, and is well 

 adapted for making ropes, twine and sacking, while the residual portions 

 might be utilised for paper-making. There are no statistics of trade in 

 ochro fibre : it is apparently sold only as an adulterant of jute or of 



631 



Lady's 

 Fingers, 

 or Ochro. 



Vegetable. 



Cultivation. 

 Two Varieties. 



Early and 

 Late. 



Yield. 



Cordage and 

 Rope, 



