422 AGRICULTURE. 



corn ; and those, perhaps, of the poorest and least improved va 

 rieties. 



Ed. Still, you cannot say we stand still in these matters. Al- 

 most every year, on the contrary, some new species or variety is 

 brought forward, and, if it prove good, is gradually introduced into 

 general cultivation. Look at the tomato, for instance. Twenty 

 years ago, a few curious amateurs cultivated a specimen or two of 

 this plant in their gardens, as a vegetable curiosity ; and the visitor 

 was shown the " love apples " as an extraordinary proof of the odd 

 taste of " French people," who outraged all natural appetites by 

 eating such odious and repulsive smelling berries. And yet, at the 

 present moment, the plant is grown in almost every garden from 

 Boston to New Orleans ; may be found in constant use for three 

 months of the year in all parts of the country ; and is cultivated 

 by the acre by all our market gardeners. In fact, it is so popular, 

 that it would be missed next to bread and potatoes. 



Sub. Quite right ; and a most excellent and wholesome vegeta- 

 ble it is. It is almost unknown in England, even now ; and, in- 

 deed, could only be raised by the aid of glass in that country, a 

 proof of how much better the sun shines for us than for the sub- 

 jects of her majesty, across the Channel. But there is another 

 vegetable which you see here, really quite as deserving as the to- 

 mato, and which is very little known yet to the cultivators in the 

 country generally. I mean the okra. 



Ed. Yes. It is truly a delicious vegetable. Whoever has 

 once tasted the " gumbo soup," of the South, of which the okra is 

 the indispensable material, has a recollection of a good thing, which 

 will not easily slip from his memoiy. All over the southern States 

 okra is cultivated, and held in the highest esteem. 



Sub. And there is no reason why it should not be equally so 

 here. Except to the north of Albany, it will thrive perfectly well, 

 and mature an abundance of its pods, with no trouble but that of 

 planting it in a warm rich soil. See what a handsome sight is this 

 plat, filled with it, though only ten yards square, rich, luxuriant 

 leaves, blossoms nearly as pretty as an African hibiscus, and pods 

 almost as delicate and delicious as an East India bird's nest, ^t has 

 kept my family in materials for soups and stews all the season, to 



