The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-03-29
Okra and Tomatoes.

t,.re are two vegetables which, in all
civilized countries, and for all time, are
-, no regarded as a complement, one to the
o+ber That this is a timely and well de-
served compliment no one familiar with
certain facts will deny. A soup-loving
1rorld cannot name or think of one, with
ont bearing in kindly remembrance of the
otber They are the veritable Casters
and Pollux's in the soup. They may be
.enarated in the cans, but they are sure
N he reunited in the tureen. There was
a time and, if we believe men who write
about such things. not so very long ago
either when there was no word OF praise
for ollra or tomatoes, either singly or col
lectively. Inside of this very century,
men and women, too, have been heard to
saw that the one was sickening even to
look upon, and the other was actually
noisonous But change is writ upon ev-
ervthjng mundane was the sage refiec-
tion of a highly esteemed philosopher.
Time changes; men, and even women,
change: appetite changes; everything
changes. even money and the weather.
saw not to-day a thing is poisonous, to
be abhorred; tomorrow it may be on Del
monico's menu, and you cant get
enough of it." Now, l do not speak mad
visedly. for BUST will substantiate a part
If nv assertion and "Delmo' will the
other: for, as | was passing that cele-
brated lunch establishment but few
DAYS ago, saw / not this gilded placard,
suspended like banner on the outer wall:
Soup! hot soup-okra and tomatoes. Was
there any question as to the interpreta-
ton thereof? / trow not. The dullest
gamin that took in as he read that sign,
that blustery morn in March. knew for a
certainty that the warming, not excessive
ly satisfying, liquid refreshment, ycleped
soup" with those ingredients to give 1t
tone-okra and tomatoes (rarely if ever
tomatoes and okra'O was to be had with
in. Euphony and style are to be consid-
cred in all things. There would be as lit
tie regard for either if the placard read
tomatoes and okra," as there would be
in reversing the firm name of those esti-
mable men of business on A street-Steele
& Doolitte, or of their compeers in bust
ness integrity-Messrs Ketcham & Cheat
ham of Eleventh avenue Avaunt how it
would pail upon any and all sense Of APP
propriateness that the one should read
'Doolittle & Steele" or the other Cheat
ham & Ketcham." Without stopping to
point out why so, it is only necessary to
say that both euphony and true suggestive
ness would be violated by such a change.
In the arrangement of things, even in a
firm name, or a vegetable couplet, there
is an eternal fitness; there is fitness in
saying okra and tomatoes instead of to-
matoes and okra.
Most excellent rock soup is made with
okra and tomatoes alone, salt, pepper and
vinegar not counted, of course. Both of
these vegetables have a strong hold upon
popular esteem, else why so many thou
sand dozens put up in cans every year?
The people of the north have learned to
like okra. Thirty or forty years ago it
HfFln Cd Cd 10 Nf 1,n
SOUTH but its growth has been considera-
Oily extended in the past ten years. Both
okra and the tomato are of comparatively
recent discovery or development. One is
reported to have come from the West In
dies, the other from South America. They
are both nineteenth century vegeta-
bles."
Okra is planted just as soon as the soil
mas warmed up sufficiently, and no further
lrost threatened-here about the 10Th of
march. If the seeds are soaked in warm
water for forty-eight hours they germin-
ate more promptly; but if the seeds are
fresh there Is no need for soaking. The
best Kind, by far is Southern Smooth
pod, called also "Ve1vet'' okra. II has
lew or no branches, consequently can
ne planted closer than other kinds. Rows
should be three feet apart, and two or
three plants to the hill, every eighteen or
twenty inches apart. Keep the pods cut
OH as fast as they attain the size of the
niue niger. The stalks then. will bear
untll frost. 1t is well, however, where a
good supply is wanted in the fall to make
q second planting in May or early June.
ms crop will furnish the winter supply.
Hather the pods before they attain full
growth, and while still tender, though
much larger than either finger, slice UP
INTO inch lengths. Dry in the shade, and
put away in paper bags. With a few
Jars or cans of tomatoes on hand in the
pantry okra and tomato soup may give
its acceptable presence to the winter table
as well as ii did that of midsummer
The tomato deserves a whole chapter tc
Itself. It's history reminds us of "how
slow the growth of what is excellent" and
now "a long rejected stone may at last
become the chief of the corner"