229 
in 1851 and 1852 the we eec of the administration of Königs- 
At that time the “ n n " moths were driven by astorm into the 
sea while on their way, so kien ‘the insects were thrown up by the waves 
on to the coasts for a distance of 10 German miles in a bank 7 feet wide 
and 6 inches thick, and were used as manure by the coast inhabitants. 
The extent of the ravages in Russia at that time was 6,400 German 
r 
These few examples may suffice to show that the “nonnen |" have 
made their appearance in former centuries in large numbers, and have 
generally disappeared with equal suddenness. The present catastrophe 
will likewise come to an end, after Á— heavy — though it may 
return many years later. But we possess no radi 
against the “ nonnen,” and it seems doubtful if we shall ever find one. 
At allevents it is the duty of the forest managers, forest owners, 
Goremment, and the whole population to come to close quarters in 
every possible way with this dangerous visitor, even although Nature 
herself up = now has proved eti ind "e t helper, and may continue 
so in future. When, however, the evil will be conquered that 
God mede can certainly tell. Let us pue o the best. 
CLXXII.—OKRO FIBRE. 
(Hibiscus esculentus, L.) 
The plant variously known as okro, okra, gobbo, gombo, and quim- 
bombo, is widely cultivated in es tropies for its horn-like pods, or seed 
vesse els, which are used as a table vegetable. They are Gr MET 
mucilaginous, and are made into soups and sauces. ‘The ripe 
sometimes parched and used as a substitute for coffee. ‘The plant is an 
annual herb, with a stout hairy stem from 2 to 5 feet in height. The 
ves are large, three- to five-lobed, coarsely toothed, with petioles about 
6 inches in length, more or less bristly. The flowers are yellow, with a 
brown or crimson centre. he fruit is pyramidal-oblong, 6 to 10 
inches pong and about j to 1 inch in diameter, with five prominent ribs 
and smooth. The spherical seeds are grey or greenish, obovate, and 
ard with fine hairs 
The Okro (Hi = esculentus, L.), Abelmoschus esculentus, W. & 
A., is probably a native of India, but it is now naturalised or cultivated 
pointed. There is said to be a sub-variety of the long-fruited ges 
okro with oe pods. 
has long been known in India and — to yield a 
long silky fibre, the breaking strain of which, according to Ro neam is 
79 pounds dry, and 95 pounds wet. Specimens of Indian ochro fi 
in the Kew Museums resemble hemp in colour and texture. or" is 
ian well adapted for making ropes, twine, and sacking, while the 
ual portions could be utilised for paper- -making. 
