PEPPERS. 179 



One of the most productive and, consequently, very popular. 



Bliss's Abundance. Half-dwarf, branching-, of excel- 

 lent quality and very productive. Late. 



Nott's Excelsior. A new, very productive, early, dwarf 

 variety that is becoming- very popular. 



PEPPERS. {Capsicum annuum.) 

 Native of South America.— Perennial but in cultivation 

 grown as an annual. There are many varieties differing 



Flg x? 5 -y, a r ieties of Peppers. 1. -Birds Eye. 2.-Tomato ShanM s 

 New Orleans. 4.-Golden Bell. 5.-Verv Small Cat n P f c, 'T*. 

 Spanish. 7.-Cluster. 8,-Ruby ^^JoSE^XSfa JMretk^ 

 chiefly in the shape of their fruit. All of them have erect 

 branching stems, which become almost woody. The leaves are 

 spear-shaped; flowers, white, star-shaped, solitary in the axils 

 of the leaves: fruit, generally hollow with a somewhat fleshy 

 skin, at first dark green, but when ripe turning red, yellow or 

 dark violet. The seeds are flat and, like the flesh of the pods 

 have a very acrid, burning taste, for which the plant is culti- 

 vated andused in giving flavor to pickles,etc. Their germinat- 

 ing power lasts about four years after being separated 

 but if left in the pods they will keep much longer without 

 injury. 



