62 TRUCK FARMING 



crop when the price advances. It is advisable to use for this crop 

 an application containing 6 per cent of ammonia,* 6 per cent of 

 phosphoric acid and 8 per cent of potash. Without the latter 

 they will not have good shipping stability. 



Peppers are subject to attack by various fungous diseases, fore- 

 most among which ranks the disease known as black rot. Early 

 applications of Bordeaux Mixture will thoroughly annihilate these 

 diseases, or rather prevent them entirely, and it is a wise precaution 

 not only to keep the foliage covered with Bordeaux Mixture 

 throughout the growing season, but also to apply it in dry form 

 upon the seed-beds. Should this be neglected, often great loss is 

 incurred. This disease not only attacks the plant, but the fruit 

 also, at times proving very disastrous to the crop, not only in the 

 field, but in transit. All deformed or red fruit should be picked 

 and removed from the field as soon as it appears. 



Seed should always be procured from those that make a 

 specialty of this branch of business. In fact, I have found it to 

 be very profitable to stake some of the best plants, and save their 

 entire output for seed. 



Picking should begin as soon as the fruits are plump and hard. 

 Many are tempted, as formerly recited in regard to tomatoes 

 sometimes on account of the high prices to pick the fruit before 

 it is well developed. This prematurely picked fruit will simply 

 wither and rot and have a disastrous effect upon the market. The 

 grower should always bear in mind that it is much more profitable 

 to keep a high standard of excellence in all his products and 

 try as far as possible to influence his neighbors to do likewise. 



Peppers should be very carefully assorted and packed in six- 

 basket-carriers, preferably for the fancy article. However, when 

 the prices become low, it is often more profitable to ship in egg- 

 plant or one-half-barrel carriers, the freight being the same in 

 both cases. You can by this method bring much larger quantities 

 into the market at the same freight or express rates. Culls must 

 be sorted out and shipped to nearby markets and then only if the 

 price should warrant such shipments. It is preferable to leave 



* See last part of Chapter VI. 



