preading, they should be two feet and a half or
three feet apart in each direction. The seeds may be sown in April or
May, in the open ground where the plants are to remain; or a few seeds
may be sown in a hot-bed, and the seedlings afterwards transplanted.

_Gathering and Use._--The young pods are the parts of the plant used.
These are produced in great abundance, and should be gathered when about
half grown, or while tender and succulent: after the hardening of the
flesh, they are worthless. They are used for pickling, and by many are
considered superior to the Cucumber, or any other vegetable employed for
the purpose.

* * * * *

OIL RADISH. _Law._

Raphanus sativus.

A variety of the Common Radish, particularly adapted for the production
of oil, and distinguished by the name _R. sativus olifer_, or Oil
Radish. Its stems are dwarf, from a foot and a half to two feet in
height, much branched, spreading, and produce more seed-pods than the
Common Radish. It is grown rather extensively in China for its oil; from
whence it has been introduced into and cultivated in some parts of
Europe: but it does not appear with any particular success, though much
has been said and written in its favor.

It seems best suited for southern latitudes, where it may be sown in
September, and harvested the following May or June: but, in the northern
portions of the United States, it will be found too tender to withstand
the winter; and the seed will therefore require to be sown in spring.

The oil is obtained from the seed, and is considered superior to
rape-seed oil, but is extracted with greater difficulty.

* * * * *

OKRA, OR GUMBO.

Ocra. Hibiscus esculentus.

Okra is a half-hardy annual, from Central America. Stem simple,
sometimes branched at the top, and from two to six feet in height,
according to the variety; the leaves are large, palmate, deep-green; the
flowers are large, five-petaled, yellowish on the border, purple at
the centre; the seed-pods are angular, or grooved, more or less
sharply pointed, an inch or an inch and a half in diameter at the
base, and from four to eight inches in length; the seeds are large,
round-kidney-shaped, of a greenish-drab color, black or dark-brown at
the eye, and retain their power of germination five years.

_Soil, Sowing, and Cultivation._--Okra may be raised in any common
garden soil, and is propagated by seeds sown in