118 CULTIVATED VEGETABLES. 



GUINEA PEPPER.— CAPSICUM. 



Natural order, Litridce. A genus of the 

 Pentandria Monogynia class. 



The generic name of this plant is derived 

 from a Greek word, signifying to bite, on 

 account of the biting heat of its fruit ; some 

 take it from capsa, a chest. 



This herbaceous plant was brought to 

 Europe by the Spaniards, and we have ac- 

 counts of its being cultivated in this country 

 as early as the reign of Edward the Sixth, 

 although it seldom ripens its pods with us 

 unaided by artificial heat ; for plants, like 

 men, have 



" constitutions fitted for that spot 



Where Providence, all wise, has fiVd their lot." 



There are many varieties of the capsicum 

 in hot countries, where Nature has sported 

 so much in the form of the fruit, that it is 

 almost endless to trace the shapes and 

 figures which the different kinds assume. 

 They are principally distinguished by the 



