IN THE EVERGLADES 63 



these out of the market altogether as they have a tendency to 

 deplete prices. 



The peppers can be picked once every ten days or two weeks, 

 if the weather conditions are favorable. There is no vegetable 

 grown that responds better to thorough irrigation sub-irrigation 

 in this case, as in most others, being preferable. The depression 

 around the stem ends of the peppers, having a tendency to accu- 

 mulate considerable water, the overhead system of irrigation often 

 proves detrimental and cannot be recommended. Care should be 

 taken not to pick the peppers when the dew is upon them, for 

 this same reason. 



Much depends upon the proper packing. A crate that is well 

 packed with uniform, well matured peppers (being careful to 

 exclude all those that have a tendency to show defects) will often 

 bring as much as 50 per cent more on the market. The number 

 of crates realized per acre of this vegetable is simply enormous; 

 under the most favorable conditions 1,200 crates being nothing 

 uncommon. 



It is conceded by our best growers, that a net price of 75 cents 

 per crate is very profitable on the average. They are one of the 

 crops that can be very profitably grown on pine land and are 

 often planted between the citrus tree rows. 



On account of the heavy applications of nitrogenous fertilizer,* 

 they should only be planted among very young citrus trees on 

 muck or hammock soil as those heavy applications of ammonia 

 would prove detrimental to older trees upon the last named soils, 

 which are already overabundantly supplied with ammonia. 



Great care must be taken to see that the land is properly 

 drained of all surface water in cropping peppers, as a small 

 amount of standing or stagnant water will destroy the entire 

 crop. 



* See last part of Chapter VI. 



