Vegetables with Edible Fruits 207 



Fertilizer for peppers. 



Ammonia, 5 per cent, available phosphoric acid, 5 per 

 cent, and potash, 9 per cent, should be used as a fertilizer, 

 applying 750 to 1250 pounds to the acre. The same pre- 

 cautions should be used in applying the material as directed 

 for eggplant. 



Cultivation of peppers. 



Cultivation should be carried on thoroughly and deeply, 

 but never to the extent of injuring or destroying the 

 roots of the plants. This must be ascertained by observa- 

 tion. An easy and satisfactory way is to remove the soil 

 from beside a thrifty plant and follow the roots to the ends. 

 Before the plants have reached their bearing size, it is well 

 to discontinue the deep cultivation, but to continue the 

 cultivation of the upper stratum of the soil, until the ship- 

 ping season is over. When the plants are no longer 

 wanted, they should be destroyed at once ; especially 

 should this be done if another crop of peppers is to be 

 grown on the same land the following year. (See Plate X.) 



Marketing. 



As soon as the large varieties have reached two inches 

 in diameter, they are usually considered ready for market- 

 ing, but one must be guided by experience in the matter. 

 The earliest shipments are usually the most remunerative. 



It is not usually necessary to wait for the fruit to be- 

 come slightly wilted before packing, but sometimes this 

 may be done to advantage. The fruit is packed in the 



