278 AMERICAN HUSBANDRV. 



PEPPER. Capsicum. 



There are many varieties of the Capsicum, but 

 those found best adapted to this country are the 

 Bell, Tomato or Squash, and long Red Peppers. 

 Natives of tropical regions, they are tender plants, 

 but are much cultivated for pickles, condiments, me- 

 dicinal purposes, &c. 



The plants' may be started in a hotbed in March, 

 or sown in the open air in a warm border in May. 

 They should be forced forward as rapidly as possi- 

 ble, and the earth should be made rich and warm. 

 Pigeons' or hens' dung has been thought the best for 

 these plants ; but in a rich, warm soil they Avill gen- 

 erally succeed in ripening their pods. The plants 

 set for bearing should stand eighteen inches apart, 

 and some gardeners prefer two feet each way. For 

 pickles, peppers must be gathered after their growth 

 is attained, but before they are fully ripe. The Bell 

 Pepper, having a thicker envelope, is considered su- 

 perior to the other kinds of pickles, and is therefore 

 preferred for planting. 



PEA. Piswn Sativum. 

 The Pea is one of the most valuable plants in gar- 

 dei- or field culture, ai>d many varieties of them have 

 been produced, and may be found on the catalogues 

 of our principal seedsmen. The general subdivis- 

 ions of the garden peas are dwarf and tall, or early 

 and late ; and of each of these there are many kinds. 

 Of the early or dwarf pease the Washington, Bish- 

 op, Charlton, and Blue Prolific are perhaps the best 

 known ; of the tall or later kinds, the several varie- 

 ties of Marrowfats are unequalled. The pea called 

 the Sugar Pea is cooked like stringed beans, the pod 

 having no toujh inner film, and is boiled whole. Of 

 this pea there are two kinds, the Dwarf Sugar and 

 the tall Crooked Pod ; the first growing three, and 

 the last six feet in length. The earlv nr dwarf pease 



