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^ Cajorier, whence our name Caper ; the Germans 

 call it Kapernstraiicli, Mr. Poole gives about 40 tons as 

 the annual imports. 



SoY Bean. — The pods of Soja hispida, (Nat. Ord. Le- 

 guminoscB,) ' 



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 {hitjapy Chinese)^ is called 

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

 so tenacious. About 500 or 600 gallons are annually 

 received. 



Okea^ Okro^ or Gombo. — The seed-vessels of Ahelmoschus 

 esculentus, or Hibiscus esculentus, (INTat. Ord. Malvacea,) 



The Okra is an annual plants a native of the East Indies^ 

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

 Indies and in North ifmerica 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 Prance and other 

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



