The Birmingham age-herald., 1922-06-28


 Herald. wanting to buy seed or plants of yucca filamentosa Flaccida, an Age Herald reader answered the ad, offering to furnish any number Of plants and is now in receipt of letter stating, that an agent from Germany would visit Brmingham during the summer to take the mat ter up in person. Just why Ger many is interested in a large way in procuring this plant is not known, but evidence is sufficient to indicate that some economic importance Is at tached, otherwise, why such an e&- pensive trip? There are many species of this plant, some of which are com- mon to England and Germany. The species inquired for grows wild over large area in south Alabama and is variously known under such com mon names as bear grass, Spanish dagger, Spanish needle, Adams needle, Eyes thread etc It is a wonderfully strong fiber plant and about the only economic use made of it in this country is for bottomi,g chairs, hanging up meat and other rough cordage. It is. of course, cui- tivated for it's decorative foliage ana tall spikes of white bell shaped flower.
 KnhI Rabi Winter Vegetable
 kahl rahi is probably a native of Germany or the colder climates of northern Europe. It is extensively grown Tn those countries as a vege- table and as a staple food for stock. It Is queer combination of the cabbage and turnip and is often called turnip rooted cabbage The plant looks much like cabbage or rape and is grown for it's bulb formed by the swelling of the plant stems, just above the ground. When these bulbs are young and tender about the size of an egg, they arc delicious when cooked like cabbage or turnips. They may be gathered and stored for winter use like tur- nips, cabbage, parsnip and carrots or if about grown when cold weather comes on, they may be left in the open without injury and remain ten der and succulent for some time When the roots become old, they are mere or less stringy and woody. The plant does not transplant very sats- factorily and it is generally best to plant in drills like turnip or radish, and thin out promptly to about six inches apart. It takes three or four months to mature and the seed ought to be planted from July Is to Au- gust 15
 Red Cabbage Winter Vegetable
 You often see in the winter medium sized hard headed cabbage of a dark purplish red color. If you should buy one and cook it in the same manner as other cabbage, you would be surprised at the splendid quality and if used raw in a salad you would begin to appreciate it's good merits This peculiar cabbage is native of the colder northern European coun- tries and is probably the best keep Ing variety in general scultiya tioa For this reason it is largely used for pickling and the production of krant For some reason the plant is not near so susceptible to insect attack as common varieties. It seems to be well adapted in the south for the production of a winter cabbage crop \ Most winters would not affect 1t and It is rarely injured except from late freezes that sometimes occur in Jan uary and February. When cut in December and stored in cellar they keep as good as potatoes Seed should be sown In July to produce plants to set as soon as large enough The plant grows slow, so the soil must be rich and frequently culti- vated to induce full maturity before severe weather.
 Quest1OnS and Answers
 Q. Is there yellow cosmos? Il have read of such plant, but never saw one. Mrs. S.
 A. There is plant resem bling cosmos very much that has large. daisy-like yellow flower that blooms from July until frost The botanical name of this flower is Leptosine Stillmanni There is an orange col- orad variety known as Klondyke
 a. There is winter turnip as round as a baseball and a golden yellow color. I want to plant this sort. What name is it sold under? c. k, Tuscaloosa.
 A. If is known as golden bail also orange jelly. It Is the best of the yellow flesh turnips; tops small. roots of medium size and quality ex- cellent.
 c. Is there variety of rutabaga that don't make necks? P. F., R. F. D.. East Lake. Ala.
 A. The variety don't generally have anything to do with the plant producing necks. Of course,f scme strains of seed are better than others 1 If soil be rich. deep and seed be planted by July, thinned promptly and frequently, worked, the necks will be few.
 O. I am told there is cabbage 1 that is not bothered by the worms l What sort is it and can it be grown in the fall? Mrs. V, Cullman.
 A. There is variety called green glaze that makes thick, leathery like leaves that have glazed aspect. The | variety is sometimes called green | glazed collard. While not altogether l free from worms, it is not much both- cred. It is fine winter sort and l quality. ,spIendid after frosted on
 Q. In planting a fall crop of pota- toes, how many eyes should be left l to a cutting? Mrs. J., East Lake.
 A. When old potatoes are being l used for seed and the eyes are show ing life or sprouts, cut to a single 1 eye to the piece. Otherwise it Is safer to leave two eyes to the cut ting, but often a mere waste of seed. ] Always cut through the bud and eye. l See letter mailed.
 A. want to plant an old-fash- toned herb garden. When should | seed be planted? Mrs. R.
 A. Get soil prepared now, many l such plants may be sown in July and August.~ More information is need ed for detail answer.
 O. read where man brought | into a newspaper office bean pod over five feet long. Is this 2 fake 1 or is there such variety. w. N, i Camden, Ala.
 A. There are several such impor- 1 tations from Japan. some producing | pods to feet long. said to be ten der. fleshy and of good quality. I | have tried one variety growing | about feet long, but did not think 1 much of the quality
 O. want to try bunch bean called Masterpfece that I see highly |