1274 



PEPPER 



about the seeds, the pungency of most of the smaller 

 sorts, like Coral Gem, Tabasco, Chilli, Cayenne, and 

 Cherry extends to the fleshy portion, but as a rule the 

 large kinds, like Ruby King (Fig. 1 719), Squash, Bell, 

 Sweet Mountain, and Golden Queen are sweet or very 

 moderately pungent with the seeds removed. Some 

 medium-sized varieties, like Long Red, Celestial, and 

 Oxheart, are hot; others, like County Fair and Kaleido- 

 scope, are mild. 



As a rule Peppers are not grown in large quantities 

 in any particular locality, but most gardens near large 

 cities in the central and southern states grow a few to 

 supply local markets. 



In growing Peppers the seed is usually planted under 

 glass in February or March, and the young plants trans- 

 planted to pots or boxes when of sufficient size to han- 



1720. Pepper plant ready to transplant to the field. 



die. From 12 to 20 days are required for the seed to 

 germinate, the time varying according to the age of the 

 seed and the manner in which it has been kept. Its 

 germinating power is said to last four years, and if kept 

 in pods until sown will grow when 6 or 7 years old. A 

 light, warm soil, heavily charged with humus and one 

 that will not quickly dry out, appears to be the best. 

 In May or June, or after all danger of frost is past, 

 the plants (Fig. 1720) are set in the field in rows about 

 2% ft. apart and 18 in. apart in the rows. The ground 

 is kept thoroughly cultivated, not only to keep down 

 weeds but to maintain an even but not excessive moist- 

 ure at all times, which is very essential for best results 

 in growing this plant. By keeping the soil well worked 

 up around the plants they stand up much better against 

 the winds and weight of their own fruit. Pruning or 

 pinching the tip ends after the fruit begins to mature 

 is occasionally recommended, but is rarely practiced 

 except when specimens of especially fine fruit are de- 

 sired, in which case the fruit is thinned, leaving only a 

 few on each plant of the larger sorts. In gathering, the 

 fruit should not be torn off but cut with a knife or scis- 

 sors, leaving at least one inch of stem. The usual vege- 

 table crate is used for packing and marketing the crop. 



Insects do not injure Peppers growing in the field. 

 Red spider and greenfly (aphis) frequently attack 

 plants growing under glass. The red spider may be 

 kept in check by repeatedly syringing with water, and 

 the greenfly may be killed by fumigating with tobacco 

 dust. Two fungous diseases frequently occur on the 

 large varieties growing outdoors. One is a pink an- 

 thracnose (Gloeosporium piperatum), which causes the 

 fruit to rot about the time it begins to ripen ; the other 

 is a dark anthracnose (Collelotrichum nigrum). 



In preparing Peppers for table use, handle them with 

 gloves to prevent burning the fingers. Neither soap 

 nor water will soothe hands burned by Peppers, but 



milk will. 



PEPPEE GRASS. Lepidium. 



H. C. IRISH. 



PEPPEEIDGE or TUPELO. See Nyssa. 



PERESKIA 

 PEPPEEMINT. SeeMentha. 



PEPPEEMINT STEINGY BAEK. Hucalyptii* pi- 

 perita. 



PEPPEE EOOT. Dentaria diphylla. 



PEEAPHYLLUM (from Greek pera, beyond, and 

 phyllon; alluding to the crowded leaves). Ros&cea'. 

 The only species is a much-branched rigid shrub, with 

 deciduous, alternate, rather small and narrow Ivs., 

 white fls. similar to apple-blossoms, in few-fld. upright 

 corymbs appearing with the Ivs., and berry-like edible 

 fr. Hardy as far north as Mass., but seems to possess 

 only little ornamental value. It is of very slow growth 

 and blooms only when rather old. It grows in well- 

 drained soil and in sunny position, and is best suited to 

 be planted on rocky slopes of southern aspect. Prop, 

 by seeds and layers and by grafting on Amelanchier or 

 Crataegus. It is closely allied to Amelanchier, but dis- 

 tinguished by its corymbose fls., cylindric calyx-tube, 

 orbicular petals, and also by its narrow Ivs. The only 

 species is P. ramosissimum, Nutt., a rigid shrub, 2-6 

 ft. high: Ivs. oblong to oblanceolate, almost sessile; en- 

 tire or sparingly serrulate, silky pubescent when young, 

 %-2 in. long: fls. in few-fld. erect corymbs, white or 

 slightly tinged pink, with rose-colored disk, % in. 

 across ; petals orbicular spreading; styles 2-3: ovary 

 2- or incompletely 4-celled : fr. pendulous, globose", 

 brownish yellow, about V^ in. across. May. Ore to 

 Calif, and Colo. B.M. 7420. ALFRED REHDER . 



FEEENNIALS tend to live from year to year, as op- 

 posed to annuals and biennials, which die root and branch 

 the first or second year after flowering and fruiting. Per- 

 ennials include trees, shrubs and herbs, the two former 

 being woody, the latter not. "Perennials " as commonly 

 used by gardeners is a convenient shortening of the 

 phrase "hardy herbaceous perennials," which includes 

 Peony, Phlox and other non-woody plants whose roots 

 live over the winter while their tops may die to the 

 ground. The phrase "hardy herbaceous perennials" 

 is also shortened in common speech to "herbaceous 

 plants;" or one speaks of his "hardy border." See 

 Herbs and Border. 



A popular fallacy about Perennials lies in the com- 

 mon statement that "they die down every year and 

 come up again in the spring." Many of them never 

 come up. Peonies are as long-lived as shrubbery, and 

 a clump of Fraxinella has been known to outlive father, 

 son and grandson in the same spot. But these are 

 exceptions. The general practice with Perennials is 

 to divide them every second or third year. Nearly all 

 hardy herbaceous plants should be lifted now and 

 then, because the crowns which give the flowers in 

 most desirable kinds flower only 2 or 3 seasons and 

 then die; but the plant may be continually spreading 

 and making new growths, which furnish the flowers, and 

 unless lifted and divided the stocks become scattering 

 and unattractive. Another very good reason for lifting 

 and dividing the Perennials is that, being mostly strong- 

 rooted plants, they deplete the soil. 



PEEESKIA (Nicolaus Fabricius Peireskius, of Aix, 

 France). Cact&cece. Also written Peireskia. Shrubby, 

 the slender, often very long branches spreading or 

 climbing; spinose, but the spines not barbed and setae 

 wanting: Ivs. broad, sometimes much like those of the 

 lemon tree: fls. wheel-shaped, more or less paniculate 

 at the ends of twigs; ovary leafy: seeds dark, thin- 

 shelled, with two coverings. 



aculeata, Mill. LEMON VINE. BLAD APPLE. BAKBA- 

 DOES GOOSEBERRY. Branches woody, rather slender, 

 becoming 10-20 ft. long: Ivs. pinnate-veined, 2-3 in. 

 long, 1-2 in. broad: spines at first 2 intra-axillar, short 

 and hooked, later numerous and 1-2 in. long: fls. very 

 pale yellow, sometimes pinkish, 1-1 % in. broad, some 

 what panicled at the ends of the branches : f r. lemo 

 color, the size of an olive, at maturity nearly or qui 

 smooth. Widely spread in tropical America. B.M. 7147 

 G.C. III. 20:625. -This species is much used as st< 

 on which to graft other species of Cacti. 



