selections were made. Several true-breeding lines have now been established 

 that have green ripe fruits of a desirable size and good blocky shape, but 

 the fruit wall is rather thin. For this reason a second backcross to Burling- 

 ton, a large thick-walled, red, sweet pepper was made during the winter of 

 1956-57. and the selection for the ideal green ripe pepper will be continued 

 in following generations. It seems that eventuallv the desired objective of 

 a permanent green-ripe pepper having large fruits and early dependable 

 crops can be realized. 



Pinocchio Pepper 



A cross was made between two pepper varieties obtained from Canada to 

 obtain this new, early, dwarf plant that can serve as a dual purpose use- 

 ful and ornamental pepper variety. The variety Early Sweet from Canada 

 had sweet, early-ripening, red fruits. A single plant having upright or 

 erect fruits at harvest was chosen for one parent. The other parent, Christ- 

 mas Bell, had a dwarf plant with small, pointed, pungent, red fruits and had 

 found use primarily in the greenhouse, being used as an ornamental plant, 

 much as is done with the Jerusalem Cherry. From the cross. Early Sweet 

 :^l-48 X Christmas Bell, selections were made for a dwarfy, bushy plant 

 producing all its bright-red. finger-like, sweet fruits over the top of the 

 plant well above the leaves. Selections were made also for extreme early- 

 ripening of fruits. The variety. Pinocchio, is the first variety of all to 

 ripen its fruits at Durham, New Hampshire. 



Visitors to the experimental plots have admired its cheerful appearance 

 and some home gardeners have expressed the desire to use it for an 

 ornamental border plant. As the plants grow only one foot tall, they can be 

 spaced rather closely in the garden. Just before fall frosts, plants with 

 their load of fruits can be transplanted into pots and taken into the house. 

 After serving for decorative purposes, the rather thin-walled, red, ripe 

 fruits can be dried readily without spoiling, if handled properly, and then 

 ground up for use as paprika by the housewife. 



Pinocchio pepper (left) is a sweet, edible, finger-like variety with fruits upright 

 on a dwarf plant. It is primarily an ornamental. The Sweet Salad pepper (right) 

 is tomato-shaped with thick walls and has sweet tender flesh. It is very early. 



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