Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1917-07-24
The Georgia
COllard

MERE is probably no vegetable
grown of more real value, and
more suited to out southern con-
ditions than the old-fashiohed blue
stem Georgia collard. Every old citi-
zen of this country remembers with
pleasant recollections in their child
hood days that collards, sweet potatoes
and peas consisted OF our most staple
foods, and during slavery time, from
all accounts, these three staple products
were largely used for our most substan-
tial foods. We all know that after col
lards have been touched by frost that
they are as tender as any cabbage,
and have flavor when properly cook
ed, that is unequalled by any other green
vegetable. They seem to be native
of our country and grow luxuriantly
during the hottest of summer and
through most of winter, and will give
anyone tender greens when they are
not to be had from any other source,
and even after the heads have been
used the stems, if left, will produce an
enormous amour of green, tneder
shoots through the winter months when
nothing else will survive. AS a rule
they will stand much cold, and unless
severe freeze shuld prevail they can
be left standing in the open throughout
the winter months and always have an
abundance of green food for every day in
the year.
They are so easily cultivated that
anyone can grow an abundance of col
lards If the seeds are planted now, or
plants that have already been growing
are reset and properly cultivated it is
surprising how much food can be pro-
duced from them. They are a little
different from cabbage. and are not
bothered with worms or insects as is
oftern the case with late cabbage. They
will stand in the garden or field almost
indefinitely and will not have to be
used or sold at a sacrifice at any par
ticlular time. There never was a time
however, when farmer would find any
trouble in marketing load after load Of
nicely headed Georgia collards during
the fall months of the year. | have
seen a number of times a country wa
gon drive into town with a load of col
lards and people, especially the darkies,
swarm around these wagons almost
like bees, as ii is a dish to those who
are familiar with them much relished
and highly appreciated. and when one
gets in the habit of growing collards
they will never leet a season go with
out planting a sufficient quantity.
As food for people, for poultry, cows
and hogs | do not know of anything
that can be raised on the same space
that will make more abundant yield
and last longer than collards. The
lower leaves can be pulled and the bud
or top will continue to grow, and at the
proper time if collards are properly
cropped or trimmed in this way the
strength will center in the head during
early fall and they will usually make
magnificent heads, some of them almost
as large as the largest cabbage. If they
are given the proper distance 1t is sur
prisng what immense size some of
these heads will be.
One of the strongest points in favor
of our southern people growing collards
is that they are so hardy that by using
some water at resetting the plants and
cultivating them nearly every one will
live and go right off to growing through
the hottest and dryest weather, differ
ent from many other tender plants that
cannot be treated in this way. This is
a strong point in their favor, and en-
ables every one to plant something dur
ing the next two months that is sub
stanstantial and can be depended upon
when they would not attempt to do so
with many other vegetables that are
not so certain. There are several varl-
cites of collards. nearly all of them are
practically the same. and there is prac-
tically nothing more substantial or de-
pendable than old-fashioned blue-stem
Georgia collards. They have a reputa-
ton with all seed dealers throughout
the entire southern states as being one
of the most substantial and depend
able southern crops. If the seed are
planted now in an ordinary row in the
garden the plants can be reset any time
during August, or If plants that al
ready have been growing can be had,
which is usually the case from most
any seed dealer, 1t is even better TO
get the plants that have already De-
come hardened and started, as they
will grow quicker and grow to larger
size than from those started from SEED
planted now. However, it is not too
late to even plant collard seed now and
have fine supply of dependable greens
drought the coming winter, as noth-
ing will be found more useful with
the average family or more salaole as
a green vegetable for those who live
near cities than a splendid lot or COL
lards ready to market during Novem-
her and December. and the person who
is fortunate enough to have a small
space. If they will grow some collards
for winter use. will never regret 1t ano
will find them of as much real help and
actual value as anything this space
could be planted to.
Yours very truly,