OKBA OB GUMBO. 253 



CHAPTER XXXII. 

 OKRA OB GUMBO (Hibiscus esculentus). 



This vegetable has heen regarded as a native of the 

 West Indies, but the recent researches of DeCandolle 

 (L'Origine des Plantes Cultivees, Paris, 1883), show that 

 it is undoubtedly of African origin. Okra has long been 

 very popular at the South, but is only gradually becom- 

 ing sufficiently so at the North to warrant shipments. 

 At present the market would be overstocked by any large 

 consignments. The part used is the unripe tender seed 

 pods, which abound in mucilage, and are used for thicken- 

 ing soups and stews, and is also boiled and dressed with 

 butter, like Asparagus. It is regarded to be highly 

 nutritious. 



VABIETIES. 



In consequence of the greater convenience in cutting 

 or breaking the pods of the taller growing kinds, these 

 are to be preferred to the dwarf varieties. The long, 

 round Ladyfinger is better than any of the short, fluted 

 sorts. Young Okra plants being quite tender, the seed 

 should not be sown before March 1st. 







SOIL. 



All the wild species of Hibiscus are generally found on 

 low ground, and the Okra delights in a moist loam or 

 mould, growing to a height of ten or twelve feet on rice- 

 field banks. The crop matures earlier and is better in 

 quality, however, on a lighter and dryer soil. It is sown 



