HOT TIME IN THE OLD TOWN TONIGHT 
We sent a test sample of two pods of our Black Cuban pepper, together with our 
detailed letter, last season to a lady in Texas, who agreed to test them. Here’s her 
story: 
Dear Mr. Gleckler: Your gift of the Black Cuban pepper pods left me with feelings 
of mixed emotions. While reading your letter I twiddled the peppers in the other hand, 
with the result that I finally had pepper aplenty on everything I touched. For two days 
after planting the seed, my kitchen had that south-of-the-border chili odor. I had over- 
looked a small piece of a pod about one-fourth inch long. Definitely a most pungent 
pepper and the hottest gift I ever received. 
January 27, 1954. Mrs. F. D. D. 
Houston, Texas. 
ROSELLE (The Forgotten Plant) 
A hibiscus (hibiscus sabdariffa) and also a relative to the okra family. So valuable 
a plant in making sparkling cranberry flavored bright red jelly, beverages. food flavors 
Or pie material, made from either the buds or leaves, yet most home gardeners know 
nothing about it. Much easier to grow than tomatoes and is started in the same manner. 
The seed buds are the fruit and, including the entire plant, are a dark red color. Pro- 
ducing the seed buds requires a long season, such as in southern states. They can be 
grown Successfully in northern areas in which the leaves are used, equally as fine as 
the buds. When set out in the garden a space of four to five feet square must be 
allowed. The extracted juice of the leaves and buds, which is secured by cooking and 
straining. is very low in sugar (1%) and high in a pleasant acid (3%) flavor. The gen- 
erous supply of pectin, acidity and cherry red color give a wonderful jelly product, equal 
to red currants or cranberries. Recipes are given in Farmer’s Bulletin 307, available 
from the U. S. Department of Agriculture. 
Pkt.: (about 40 seeds) 25c; '% oz. $1.25. 
STRANGE PLANT SPECIALTIES 
Complete detail with photographs is given in our main catalog, “TOMATO PRO- 
GRESS 1954.” 
NARANJILLA: Bushy large-leaved plants bear orange-like fruits and make a very 
delicious beverage. Pkt. 50c. 
ACHIOTE: Shrub-like tree produces bright red seeds, used in food coloring and also 
for lipstick. Pkt. 50c. 
TABLE COWPEAS: From Israel. Edible long pods 20 inches in length. Large sweet 
pea blossoms, Pkt. 25c. 
EDIBLE JUTE: Tall growing spinach; tender, fine for greens in hot climates. 
Pkt. 25c; 4% oz. 50c; 4 oz. 90c. 
CHILEAN HAND MELON: Size of large apple; delicious, fine for the refrigerator. 
Pkt. 50c. 
JUMBO HUSK TOMATO: Two inches and over. enclosed in a husk, fine for pies and 
preserves. Pkt. 25c; °4 oz. 90c. 
YARD LONG BEANS: Pole-type, black-seeded, longest podded strain in existence, 
tender, stringless. Pkt. 25e. 
TOMATO TREE: Bear firm plum-shaped delicious fruits on 12-foot trees. Fine grown 
in a flower pot in the home or greenhouse. Three strains, viable seed—Red, Golden 
Gem and Yellow. Each strain: Pkt. (25 seeds) 50c. 
