142 POPULAR ECONOMIC BOTANY. 



The caper has been long used as a valuable and much 

 esteemed pickle ; but the date of its introduction is not sa- 

 tisfactorily known. In Italy it is called Caprioli, or Capero, 

 in Prance, Caprier, whence our name Caper ; the Germans 

 call it Kapernstrauch. Mr. Poole gives about 40 tons as 

 the annual imports. 



Soy Bean. — The pods of Soja kispida. (Nat. Ord. Le- 



These pods are very rarely imported, but the sauce made 

 from them is sent from India in large quantities, and is much 

 esteemed. The sauce, or catsup (kitjap, Chinese), is called 

 Soy, and is a thick black liquid, resembling treacle, but not 

 so tenacious. About 500 or 600 gallons are annually 

 received. 



Okra, Okro, or Gombo. — The seed-vessels of Abebnosckus 

 esculentus, or Hibiscus esculentus. (Nat. Ord. Malvaceae.) 



The Okra is an annual plant, a native of the East Indies, 

 but has spread over a great part of the world. In the West 

 Indies and in North America it is highly prized ; in Turkey 

 and Greece it is extensively used, under the name of Bamia; 

 in India it is known under the names of Gobbio and Ban- 

 dikai ; and it is now much cultivated in Trance and other 

 parts of Europe as a garden vegetable. Only the very young 



