CULTURAL DIRECTIONS 379 



MUSTARD (Brassica) 



522. Importance. — Mustard is a member of the cab- 

 bage family. It is used as a salad plant, often with 

 cress, and also for greens. The seeds are used in the 

 manufacture of the mustard of commerce. This plant 

 is often grown in home gardens and to a limited extent 

 for commercial purposes. 



523. Culture. — In the North the seed may be sown at 

 any time from early spring until fall to obtain a succes- 

 sion of young tender leaves. It is customary to sow as 

 soon as possible in the spring for the early summer crop, 

 in July or August for the fall crop and in September 

 for the spring crop. Southward it is often started in the 

 fall, for cutting early in the spring. The sowings are 

 made in drills a foot or more apart, and then thinned to 

 5 or 6 inches in the row. White London is perhaps the 

 best variety for the North; Southern Giant Curled is 

 popular in the South. Chinese is a broad-leaved variety, 

 producing a large amount of herbage. 



OKRA OR GUMBO (Hibiscus esculentus) 



524. Importance. — This hot weather perennial is 

 grown to a considerable extent in the South, and in a lim- 

 ited-way in the North. The young, tender pods are used 

 mainly in soups and stews, although they are excellent 

 when boiled and served hot or cold as a salad. 



525. Culture. — In the South the sowings are made in 

 the open ground ; in the North the plants should be started 

 under glass, the seed sowed in pots, inverted sods or 

 in other devices, so the shift to the field may be made 

 without disturbing the roots. The planting distances 

 depend upon the vigor of the varieties, but ordinarily 

 2x3 feet apart provides sufficient space. The soil 

 should be warm and fertile. Several varieties are in 



