306 FIELD AND GARDEN PRODUCTS 



ning to ripen make a delicious flavoring for pickles. (Mich. E. S. 

 20 ;S. Dak.E. S. 68.) 



NEW ZEALAND SPINACH. 



The plant known as New Zealand spinach is not a true spinach, 

 but grows much larger and should be planted in rows 3 feet apart, 

 with the plants 12 to 18 inches apart in the row. Some difficulty 

 may be experienced in getting the seeds to germinate, and they 

 should be soaked one or two hours in hot water before planting. New 

 Zealand spinach is satisfactory for growing in warm climates, as it 

 withstands heat better than the ordinary spinach. The fleshy leaves 

 and tender stems are cooked the same as spinach. 



OKRA (Gumbo). 



This plant may be grown throughout the greater portion of the 

 United States, but only one crop can be produced during a season in 

 the northern part of the country. In the region around New Orleans 

 successive plantings are made and a constant supply is maintained. 

 The plant is of a tropical nature and will not endure frost, but the 

 pods begin to be produced very soon after the plants start into rapid 

 growth and continue to form for several weeks, especially if all pods 

 are removed while young and no seeds allowed to ripen upon the 

 plants. 



Soil and Its Preparation. The soil upon which okra can be 

 most successfully grown is a rich mellow loam, plowed rather deeply 

 and well worked over with pulverizing tools. After the seedlings be- 

 come established and the roots get a firm hold of the soil, the growth 

 is very rapid and a large amount of available plant food, especially 

 of a nitrogenous nature, is required. Quick-acting commercial fer- 

 tilizers may be applied in moderate quantities, but these should be 

 well mixed with the soil. The same conditions that will produce 

 good cotton or corn will be found suitable for the production of okra. 



Planting the Seed. Throughout the Northern States planting 

 should be done as early as possible in spring, or as soon as the soil is 

 warm enough for the planting of general garden seeds. In the 

 Southern States, where a continuous supply is desired, successive 

 seedings of four or five weeks apart should be made. Plant in rows 

 3% feet apart for the dwarf types, and 4% feet for the larger-grow- 

 ing varieties. Scatter the seeds in drills, or plant loosely in hills, as 

 with corn, and cover to a depth of 1 or 2 inches, according to the 

 compactness and moisture content of the coil. The seeds may be 

 planted with any good seed drill, but when placed in hills they 

 should be separated 3 or 4 inches to allow space for the development 

 of the stems. If the soil is reasonably warm, germination will take 

 place within a few days but should tnere be a heavy rainfall in the 

 mean time the soil should be lightly cultivated between the rows and 

 the crust broken over the seed by means of an iron rake. 



Cultivation. As soon as the plants are well established they may 

 be thinned to three or four in a hill, or, if grown in drills, to 12 or 

 14 inches for the dwarf and 18 to 24 inches for the larger growing 

 varieties. Where vacant places occur from failure in germination 

 they may be filled in by transplanting. Cultivate as in the case of 



