96 
HOVEY’S ILLUSTRATED GUIDE 
PER PUT. 
OKRA, or GOMBO (Hibiscus Esculentus). 
German, Essbarer Hibiscus. — French, Gombo. — Spanish, Quibombo. 
This plant is cultivated to some extent as a vegetable; served in the same manner as As¬ 
paragus. The green seed-pods are used in soups, aud deemed a luxury. 
Culture. —The seeds are sown thinly, on dry, warm soil, in shallow drills two feet apart. 
Cover the seeds lightly. After the plants are up, thin them out to nine inches apart; hoe freely, 
and draw a little earth to the stems as they continue to grow. Gather the pods when quite 
green, and about an inch and a half long. 
Long; Green. Pods long and ribbed. Per oz., 10 cts.. C 
improved Dwarf Green. Pods small sized, smooth, green, and round. Per oz., 10 cts. , 6 
ONION (Allium Cep a). 
German, Zwiebel. — French, Ognon. — Spanish, Cebolla. 
No vegetable is more extensively known and cultivated than the Onion. It has been the 
common seasoning for soups and meats of all nations from the earliest period to the present. 
In cookery it is indispensable. 
Culture. —The soil, in general, cannot be too rich for this vegetable; and, however good it 
may be, it requires more or less manure for every crop. Unlike most vegetables, it succeeds well 
when cultivated on the same land for successive years, provided it is liberally supplied with nu¬ 
trition. Previous to sowing, the ground should be thoroughly spaded over, or deeply ploughed, 
and the surface made smooth and even. The seed should be sown as early in spring as the soil 
may be in good working condition. Sow in drills fourteen inches apart, and half an inch in 
d' pth. When the plants are three or four inches high, thin them out to two inches apart, if 
the weather is moist, the thinnings may be transplanted into other ground. They, too, will at¬ 
tain full size; but observe, in planting, to put the roots ouly under ground. Four pounds of 
seed will plant one acre. 
To grow Onion “ Setts,” sow the seed thinly in March or April. No further culture is re¬ 
quired, except hand-weeding, as their thickness in the bed will prevent their growing large, and 
will cause them to come to maturity sooner. When the tops die down, the small onions are gath¬ 
ered. and kept spread thinly in a dry, uiry loft. These are planted early in spring, about three 
or four inches apart; they are lit for use or market in July. 
Potato Onions are also planted as early as possible in spring. The large bulbs are planted 
to produce stock for seed, and the small ones for early table-use and market in August. 
Early Red. A very fine early sort; handsome-shaped, thick and smooth skinned, fine fla¬ 
vored, and solid; ripens by the end of July; excellent and sure cropper. Per oz.,30 cts. .10 
Early Flat Yellow, or Cracker. The earliest of the yellow varieties; smooth and hand¬ 
some, tender, and of finest quality; very sure cropper. Per oz., 40 cts.10 
Danvers Yellow. A very fine variety, originated in Danvers, Mass. Above the medium 
size; globular in form; skin yellowish-brown; fiesh white, mild, and well-flavored. 
Very productive; one of the most popular kinds in cultivation. Per oz., 40 cts. . . .10 
Large Yellow-flat, or Silver-skin. An old and favorite sort; of excellent quality; grows 
to a large size; sure cropper, and good keeper. Per oz.,40 cts. . . . . .10 
Large I?eel Wethersfield. Very large, deep red, thick, flne-grained, tender, and of sweet, 
pleasant flavor; fine keeper; very profitable, and perhaps more extensively grown than 
any other. Per oz., 30 cts.. 
White Portugal. A fine, very mild-flavored sort; ripens early, and is excellent for table in 
summer and autumn. Per oz., 40 cts.. 
PER QT. 
Top, or Button Onion. Bulbs, producing instead of seeds a number of small bulbs or 
onions about the size of filberts.. 
Onion Setts... 50 
Potato Onions . ... .25 
ORACHE, op MOUNTAIN SPINACH (Atriplex IIortensis). 
German, Garten Melde. — French, Aroche.— Spanish, Armuelle. 
Culture. — This requires deep,rich soil. Sow the seed in drills made two feet apart; and, 
to promote a vigorous growth, the plants should stand eight or ten inches from each other. It 
produces an abundance of large, succulent, and tender leaves, all through the summer, which 
are used in same manner as Bpinach, and have a rich and agreeable flavor. 
PER PKT. 
Orache, or Mountain Spinach. Per oz., 25 cts. 5 
“ Leo’s New Giant. This variety grows to the height of four feet; leaves very large; 
excellent for summer greens. Per oz., 25 cts. 5 
PARSLEY (Apium Petroselinum). 
German, PetersUie. — French, Persil. — Spanish, Peregil. 
A well-known herb, esteemed for Its agreeable flavor, and used for seasoning In soups and 
sauces, garnishing various dishes of meats, 8cc. 
