

33 2 



OKRA, OR GOMBO (Hibiscus esculentus.} Cultivation. This 

 plant is not so much grown in this country as its merits deserve. 

 The pods, which are used while green and tender, form an excel- 

 lent ingredient in soups, stews, and pickles, and are believed to be 

 very nutritious. They can also be cut in slices, and dried for 

 winter use. For an early crop the plants may be raised in heat in 

 July, like tomatoes, and planted out ; the ordinary crop may be 

 sown in September and October for succession, in drills two feet 

 apart, and the plants thinned to the same distance. The soil should 

 be rich and well cultivated. 



PARSLEY (Petroselinum sativum.} Cultivation. Though par- 

 sley repays for good soil as well as any other crop, it does not 

 always obtain the best kind of treatment, being generally used as 

 an edging to the walks in the kitchen garden, or sown in some out- 

 of-the-way place in poor soil, and insufficiently thinned. The seeds 

 should be sown in drills fifteen inches apart, and the plants thinned 

 to twelve inches. Sowings should be made in August in a low, 

 shady border, for summer and autumn supply, and again in March 

 or April for winter use. 



PARSNIP (Pastinaca saliva.} Cultivation. Treat in the same 

 manner as recommended for the carrot. On dry. early soils, a 

 sowing may be made in autumn, on the occurrence of the first rains, 

 to furnish roots for use in spring, and again in September, though 

 the produce of these sowings must be used early, otherwise the 

 plants would run to seed. October is the best month in which to 

 sow the main crop, and for winter use a sowing may be made about 

 the beginning of December. The rows should be eighteen inches 

 apart, and the plants thinned to six or eight inches, according to 

 the size of the roots required, thin roots being the most suitable 

 for private families. 



PEAS (Pisiiw snlrruin.) Cultivation. Soil that has been 

 manured for a previous crop will suffice for winter-sown crops, but 

 for summer an additional dressing should be given, and the ground 

 well worked. For dwarf varieties the rows should be two and 

 a half to three feet apart, for taller sorts four to six feet, and the 

 seed of the former should be placed about one inch apart, and the 

 latter three to four inches apart. The sowing of peas may com- 

 mence in April, and be continued till February. The autumn 

 sowings should consist of the earliest varieties, including rising sun, 

 on account of its hardiness ; the same, or other early kinds, may be 

 sown in June ; second earlies and marrows in July and August ; 

 marrows again in September and October, and the latest varieties 

 in November and December ; afterwards early varieties again. To 

 maintain a continuous succession, it is a good rule to sow whenever 

 the previous crop is fairly above ground. 



POIAIOI s (Si,/iuniin tnbcrosum.) Cultivation. The soil should 

 be in good condition, and if requiring manure, stable dung, super- 

 phosphate of lime or bone dust should be used. The hrst crop, for 





