TO THE VEGETABLE GARDEN. 1 17 



Tall. Per pkt, 5 . . 



Dwarf. Per pkt, 10 40 



Okra, or Oom"bo (HIBISCUS ESCULENTUS). 

 German, Essbarer Hibiscus. French, Gombo. Spanish, Quibombo. 



This plant is cultivated, to some extent, as a vegetable : served in the same manner as Aspara- 

 gus. The green seed-pods are used in soups, and deemed a luxury. It is becoming very popular 

 since its introduction to us from the West Indies. 



CULTURE. The seeds are sown thinly, on dry, warm soil, in shallow drills two feet apart, about 

 the same as the Lima Bean. Cover the seeds lightly. After the plants are up, thin them out to nine 

 inches apart ; hoe freely, and draw a little earth to the stems as they continue to grow. Gather the 

 pods when quite green and about an inch and a half long. 



per oz. 



Long Green. Pods long and ribbed. Per pkt., 5 15 



Improved Dwarf Green. Pods small-sized, smooth, green, and round. Per pkt., 5 . .15 



Onion (ALLIUM CEPA). 

 German, Zwiebel. French, Ogtton. Cebotta.. 



No vegetable is more extensively known and cultivated than the Onion. It has been the com- 

 mon seasoning for soups and meats of all nations from the earliest period to the present. In cook- 

 ery it is indispensable. 



CULTURE. The soil in general cannot be too rich for this vegetable ; and, however good it may 

 be, it requires more or less manure for every crop : unlike most vegetables, it succeeds well when cul- 

 tivated on the same land for successive years, provided it is liberally supplied with nutrition. Pre- 

 vious to sowing, the ground should be thoroughly spaded over, or deeply ploughed, and the surface 

 made smooth and even. The seed should be sown as early in spring as the soil may be in good 

 working condition. Sow in drills fourteen inches apart, and half an inch in depth. When the plants 

 are three or four inches high, thin them out to two inches apart. If the weather is moist, the thin- 

 nings may be transplanted into other ground. They, too, will attain full size ; but observe, in plant- 

 ing, to put the roots only under ground. 



To grow Onions for pickling, sow the seed thinly in March or April. No further culture is 

 required, except hand-weeding, as their thickness in the bed will prevent their growing large, and 

 will cause them to come to maturity sooner. The seed should be thoroughly dried ; for when stored 

 in a damp state it is liable to generate heat, and consequently to lose its vitality. 



Early Red. A sub-variety of the Large Red Wethersfield, and the earliest of the Red 

 Onions. Form and color nearly the same as Large Red ; close-grained, mild, and 

 a good keeper. Very productive. Per pkt., 10 .50 



Large Red Wethersfield. Large-sized, skin deep purplish-red; flesh ptirplish-wltite ; 

 moderately fine grained, and stronger flavored than that of the yellow and earlier 

 red varieties. Very productive, and one of the best to keep ; the variety mostly 

 grown at Wethersfield. Per pkt., 5 50 



Damrers Yellow. A very fine variety, originated from South Danvers, Mass. Above the 

 medium size ; globular in form ; skin yellowish-brown ; flesh white, sugary, com- 

 paratively mild and well-flavored. Very productive ; one of the most popular for 

 general cultivation. Per pkt., 5 50 



YelJow Dutch, or Silver-skin. One of the oldest varieties ; and, as a market variety, prob- 

 ably better known and more generally grown in this country than any other. 

 Flesh white, fine-grained, mild, sugary, and well-flavored. Per pkt., 5 . . -50 



White Portugal, or Spanish. A very large, flat onion. Skin loose, of a mild flavor , fine 



early winter use, but decays early. Per pkt., 10 60 



per qt. 



Top, or Button Onion. Bulbs large, a little flattened ; producing, instead of seeds, a num- 

 ber of small bulbs or onions about the size of filberts, which serve as a substitute 

 for seeds in propagation. The bulbs are liable to decay, and should be kept in a 

 oool, dry place, away from frost 50 



Potato Onion. Producing a quantity of young bulbs on the parent root, which should be 

 planted in rows, in April, three inches deep (below the surface) and six inches 

 apart : the rows should be eighteen inches apart. Keep them free from weeds, and 

 earth them up like potatoes as they continue to grow ; when grown, may be treated 

 as other onions 40 



Oraohe, or Mountain Splnaen (ATRIPLEX HORTENSIS). 



German, Garten Melde. French, A roche. Spanish, A rmueUe. 



CULTURE. This plant flourishes best in rich soil, in open ground. Manure well, and it will 

 reward you for your trouble by its abundant produce. Sow the seed in drills five or six inches 

 asunder ; when the plants are sufficiently strong, thin them out to six inches apart. The thinnings 

 may be replanted, and occasionally watered until established. Gather the leaves for use while young 

 and tender. 



per or 

 Orache, or Mountain Spinach. Per pkt, 5 ... 20 



