Laura Hordubay, age 9, of Verona, Pa., for her question:

HOW DO BRUSSELS SPROUTS GROW?

Brussels sprouts are tiny cabbage heads, and they grow on a stem in clusters. They are definitely in the cabbage family and were sold first in Brussels in 1213.

Scientists noticed a tendency in some wild cabbage plants to form little heads at the point where the stalk joins the leaf. They encouraged the plant to go on developing in this direction. The seeds from those that showed the tendency most were saved and planted and the selection went on this way until we had today's Brussels sprouts.

Broccoli, by the way, means "little sprouts" in Italian. It's another member of the cabbage family and a close relative to Brussels sprouts.