264 



THE DICTIONARY OF GARDENING, 



Capparia continued 



FIG. 363. FLOWER AND BUD OF CAPPARIS SPINOSA. 



C. spinosa (spiny).* Common Caper, fl. white, tinged with red 

 on the outside ; pedicels solitary, one-flowered. June. I. ovate, 

 roundish, deciduous, h. 3ft. South Europe, 1596. This is an 

 excellent greenhouse shrub, and one which we have found per- 

 fectly hardy in the southern counties of England. See Fig. 563. 

 (B. M. 291.) 



CAFRIFOLIACE2E. A rather large order of shrubs 

 or herbs, often twining. Flowers terminal, corymbose, or 

 axillary; corolla superior, regular or irregular. Leaves 

 opposite, exstipulate. Well-known genera are : Linncea., 

 Lonicera, Sambucus, and Viburnum. 



CAPBIFOLIUM. See Lonicera. 



CAPSICUM (from kapto, to bite; on account of the 

 biting heat of the seeds and pericarp). ORD. Solanacece. 

 Shrubs or sub-shrubs, rarely herbs. Peduncles extra- 

 axillary, one-flowered. Leaves scattered, solitary, or twin, 

 and quite entire. Many of the species, although possess- 

 ing considerable beauty, are but rarely grown, either for 

 decoration or for the use of their fruit ; consequently, we 

 confine our specific enumeration to the Common Capsicum, 

 the Bird Pepper or Chili, and the Bell Pepper. The 

 first two of these have long been in cultivation, for use 

 either in a green state for pickles and for making Chili 

 vinegar, or ripened and ground as Cayenne Pepper. Some 

 sorts are exceedingly ornamental for greenhouse decoration 

 in winter, if plants are well grown in rather small pots, 

 and the fruit ripened under glass. The varieties producing 

 small pods are the hottest, and consequently best suited 

 for making Cayenne Pepper. These are generally caUed 



FIG. 364. FRUIT OF LONG AND ROUND CAPSICUMS. 

 Chilies. All other varieties of Capsicum have a more or 

 less pungent flavour, and those bearing larger pods are 

 more profitable for use in a green state. The fruits of 

 all are either red or yellow when ripe, and are of various 

 sizes and shapes. Some are produced and stand erect on 

 the upper side of the branches ; others hang underneath. 



Capsicum continued. 



Fig. 364 represents hanging fruits of Long and Round 

 Capsicums, the shapes of which are produced by both 

 red and yellow varieties. 



Cultivation. Being natives of tropical countries, Capsi- 

 cums cannot always be depended upon to thoroughly ripen 

 in the open air; but a good crop of green fruits may 

 generally be obtained by preparing the plants early in the 

 season, and planting out in a warm situation. 



Sow the seeds in February or early in March, in pots or 

 pans, placing them in heat ; and so soon as the plants are 

 large enough, pot off singly into Sin. pots, still keeping 

 them in heat until well rooted. Place them into Gin. or 7in. 

 pots before they become starved ; and gradually harden off 

 and plant out about 2ft. asunder, in June. The fruits ripen 

 better if the plants are placed against a south wall and 

 tacked on to it. The safest plan to obtain a crop of ripe 

 fruits is to cultivate under glass. Pots of 7in. diameter are 

 large enough. Rich soil must be used, and any spare frames 

 are suitable in summer. Plenty of water and frequent 

 syringings should be applied, as the plants are very liable 

 to injury from red spider and other insects if this is in any 

 way neglected. The fruits will keep some time after being 

 ripe, but are never better than when fresh gathered ; they 

 may, however, be kept on the plants for a considerable 

 period. 



Sorts. Chili, Long Red, Long Yellow, Small Red Cayenne, 

 Round Red, and Round Yellow. Good ornamental varieties 

 are : Little Gem, a very dwarf variety, of comparatively 

 recent introduction, covered with small, erect, red pods ; 

 and Prince of Wales, free fruiting, with hanging bright 

 yellow pods. 



C. annuum (annual). Common Capsicum. /. white, solitary. 

 June. Petioles glabrous, fr. oblong, pendulous, and erect, red 

 or yellow, variable in shape, h. 1ft. to 2ft. South America, 1548. 

 C. baccatum. Bird Pepper or Chili, fl. greenish ; peduncles twin. 

 June. fr. small, erect, almost globose. I. oblong, glabrous, as 

 well as the petiole. Branches angular, striated, h. 2ft. to 4ft. 

 Tropical America, 1731. Greenhouse shrub. 



C. grossum (large). Bell Pepper, fl. white. July. India, 1759. 

 CAFSULAR. Like a capsule. 

 CAPSULE. A dry dehiscent seed vessel or fruit. 

 CARAGANA (Caragan is the name of C. arbores- 

 cens among the Monguls). Siberian Pea-tree. ORD. 

 LeguminoscB. Very ornamental hardy deciduous trees or 

 shrubs. Flowers usually yellow, axillary, either solitary 

 or crowded, but always single on thin stalks. Leaves 

 abruptly pinnate, the midrib ending in a bristle or spine ; 

 leaflets mucronate. They are well adapted for shrub- 

 beries, and are of the easiest culture in sandy soil. Pro- 

 pagated by cuttings, made of the roots, or by seeds ; the 

 low-growing shrubs by seeds and layers. Caraganas are 

 generally increased by grafting on C. arborescens, which 

 is easily raised from seed, sown when ripe or in spring. 

 C. Altagana (Altagana). fl. yellow ; pedicels solitary. April to 

 July. 7. with six to eight pairs of glabrous, obovate-roumnsh, 

 retuse leaflets ; petiole unarmed, h. 2ft. to 3ft. Dahuria, 1789. 

 Shrub. 



C. arborescens (tree-like).* fl. pale or bright yellow ; pedicels in 

 fascicles. April, May. I. with four to six pairs of oval-oblong 

 villous leaflets ; petiole unarmed. Stipules spinescent. h. 15ft. 

 to 20ft. Siberia, 1752. Tree. (B. M. 1886.) 



C. Cnamlagu (Chamlagu). fl. yellow, at length becoming red- 

 dish, large, pendulous ; pedicels solitary. May. I. with two pairs 

 of distant, oval, or obovate glabrous leaflets ; stipules spreading, 

 and, as well as the petioles, spinose. h. 2ft. to 4ft. China, 1773. 

 Shrub. 



C. frntescens (woody).' 

 April. I. with two pairs < ... 



petiole, obovate-cuneated ; stipules membranous ; petiole fur- 

 nished with a short spine at the apex. h. 2ft. to 3ft Siberia, 

 1752. Shrub. (S. B. F. G. 3, 227.) There are one or two varieties 

 of this species. 



C. Jubata (bearded).* fl. white, suffused with red, few ; pedicels 

 solitary, very short. April. I. with four or five pairs of oblong- 

 lanceolate, lanuginously-ciliated leaflets ; stipules setaceous ; 

 petioles somewhat spinose. h. 1ft. to 2ft. Siberia, 1796. Shrub. 

 SYW. Robinia jubata. (L, B. C. 522.) 



i* fl. yellow, resupinate ; pedicels solitary, 

 rs of leaflets, approximating the top of the 



