Shucks Ed, jest ask enny one who growed up as a "hoosier" you'll learn real quick 'bout the uses of "talpa" beans. After selling the 'talpa' worms by the buckets full at a penny a piece, ya jest lazed round under the cool 'talpa' shade till late summer, early fall when the beans turned choklit brown. Jest as the Grand Designer planned it, corn silks were also dry, brown en ready at the same time.

A deft young'n could split the bean long wise on one side, use his trusty Barlow to clean out what little pith remained and replace it with the 'propriate amount of dried corn silk, head behind the barn or other outta sight site, sit back, light up and revel in the "wickedness" of it all.

"Don't know of any practical use.." indeed! City Slicker.

COF at Dun Roman High o'er beautiful Downtown Knifley
Where the old memories are usually the sweetest memories.