ROSELLE AND SEA KALE 281 



to be taken to protect the seed from drying out, as it is long in ger- 

 minating and cannot be deeply covered. Good firming of the 

 ground after previous deep culture is desirable, and a light mulch 

 will help to retain moisture and facilitate watering without crusting 

 the ground. 



ROSELLE. Hibiscus subdariffa. 



This interesting plant, resembling in its growth okra or gumbo, 

 is a native of tropical Asia and Africa, and has been widely distrib- 

 uted through semi-tropical countries, where it has been found to 

 possess considerable resistance to drought and to yield very accept- 

 able food products. It was introduced by the pioneers probably 

 from Mexico, and was distributed by the State University about 

 1895, and has been offered by California seedsmen for many years 

 past. The plant is very ornamental, the dark red stems and pods 

 showing through the rather scant dark green foliage. The flowers 

 are of a yellowish white with a dark red center, two inches across 

 and lasting only an hour or so during fair weather. The juice ex- 

 tracted from the fleshy calyces or husks is used with water to make 

 an acidulous cooling drink, but is of most value in jelly-making. 

 The mucilaginous properties of the juice render the "setting" of the 

 jelly certain, with a reasonable amount of cooking. The dark cherry 

 color of the jelly and the sprightly acid makes it nearly if not equal 

 to currant jelly. Irrigated plants produce a more highly colored 

 fruit, but come into bearing later. Unirrigated plants put their 

 strength into fruit, but the irrigated plants start lateral branches, 

 which ultimately produce several pods, while the unirrigated plants 

 have but one pod. As the plant will endure quite heated and arid 

 situations, it promises to be of much value for jelly-making where 

 currants do not thrive. The plant should be given ordinary garden 

 culture, sowing the seed when danger of frost is over. Enough of 

 the pods should be allowed to ripen to yield seed for the follow- 

 ing year. 



SEA KALE. Crambe maritima. 



This plant is but little grown in California, and then only by 

 professional gardeners. It requires long use of the ground and con- 

 siderable attention in provision for blanching. Plants may be grown 

 from seed, if it is fresh, as tomato plants are grown, and planted 

 out at about three feet apart each way. Plants can also be grown 

 from root cuttings as described for horse-radish, placing them about 

 three feet apart each way. Plants from root cuttings should be al- 

 lowed free growth for at least one year, and seedlings twice as long. 

 Preparation for use consists in covering the plant with an inverted 

 pot or box as the shoots appear and allowing it to make its growth 

 in the dark, thus producing blanched and tender midribs. In cut- 

 ting, the knife should go below the root crown, as new shoots come 

 readily from below. Old roots are productive for many years if 



