306 



GARDEN FARMING 



keep the ground well stirred and the surface soil loose, especially 

 while the plants are small. After the leaves begin to shade the 

 ground, very little cultivation is necessary except to keep the land 

 free from weeds. A poor soil and insufficient moisture will produce 

 pods of inferior size and quality. As the pod is the only part of the 

 plant used for food, it is desirable to secure a rapid and continuous 

 growth in order to produce the greatest quantity of marketable pods. 



Harvesting. As soon as 

 the pods are large enough 

 they should be gathered 

 each day, preferably in the 

 evening. The flower opens 

 during the night or early 

 morning and fades after a 

 few hours. The pollen must 

 be transferred during the 

 early morning, and the pod 

 thus formed will usually be 

 ready for gathering during 

 the latter part of the fol- 

 lowing day, although the 

 time required to produce a 

 marketable pod varies ac- 

 cording to the age of the 

 plant and the conditions 

 under which it is grown. 

 The pods should always 

 be gathered, irrespective of 

 size, while they are still soft 

 and before the seeds are half grown. Figure 1 1 5 shows a flower 

 and the pods formed the two previous mornings, the middle one 

 of which is in the proper condition for gathering. The full-grown 

 pods shown at the right and left of the flower were those allowed 

 to mature for seed. The pods, after being gathered in large bas- 

 kets, are sorted and packed for market in pint, quart, and half- 

 peck berry boxes. To be in first-class condition the pods should 

 reach the consumer within thirty-six hours after being gathered, 

 but may be kept for several days in cold storage or in a cool cellar 



FIG. 115. Okra 



A flower and edible pod in center ; mature pods at 

 either side (after Beattie) 



