PLANTING OF PEPPERS. 313 



Growing Seedlings. Select a location for the seed bed 

 where good drainage may be had. Sandy soil is best, but 

 not so poor that it contains no plant food to nourish the 

 young plant. Plow and level the plot, harrowing or raking 

 with a hand rake, as only a small piece of land is used; 

 sow seed about March 15 in rows three inches apart, cover- 

 ing one-quarter of an inch. On this spread one-quarter 

 inch with sand. Start your seed beside a large tree, if 

 you have one, and you will have fair success. The tree 

 will drain your land. If the young plants begin to die by 

 "damping off," take a trowel and dig out the affected 

 spots and throw them away. The plants should have five 

 or six leaves on before transplanting commences. Wet 

 the soil of the seed bed thoroughly before lifting the 

 plants, as the roots are damaged less. 



Field Planting. Plow the field deeply early in the win- 

 ter and keep down weeds by shallow cultivation until 

 planting time, when danger of frost is passed. The chile 

 plant is very sensitive to cold'. May 1 is a good time for 

 planting. Mark fields off in rows 4% feet apart and set 

 2% feet apart in rows. Should the weather be dry and 

 irrigation necessary plow a furrow beside each mark and 

 run water in these furrows before and after planting, and 

 if the weather be very hot two or three irrigations may 

 be necessary to start plants. Always allow 24 hours after 

 irrigating before plants are set, unless soil is very sandy. 

 Then work may commence sooner. 



When through with the irrigation furrows, plow back 

 and cultivate the land until level as before. Keep soil in 

 good growing condition always. When plants are 12 to 

 15 inches high use a ridger (such as is used in raising 

 levees for irrigation checks) with plenty of space open 

 behind and straddle each row, thus drawing the earth to 

 each side of plant and giving it support. Water may be 

 run down these rows at this time. As plants grow make 

 the ridge wider with a crowder run in between each row. 

 This ridge will keep plants from breaking down so readily 

 when laden with fruit, and when fruit strikes the ground 



