180 



VEGETABLE GARDENING. 



Culture. Peppers need practically the same cultivation as 

 the tomato or egg plant. but may be planted two feet apart, in 

 rows three feet apart. 



Varieties vary much in the shape of the pods and the 

 acridity of their juice. The kinds most commonly grown 

 are as follows: 



Ruby King. Fruit very large, bright red, smooth, mild 

 flavored and prolific. The best for general use. 



Long Red Cayenne. Fruit long and slender. Very 

 .pungent. 



POTATO. ( Sold n um tuberosum . ) 



Native of the high mountain regions of South America. 

 I — Grown as an annual, but truly a perennial through its 



tubers. Its stems are 

 more or less four an- 

 gled. The flowers 

 vary in color from 

 white to purplish. 

 Many kinds do not 

 flower, and most va- 

 rieties seldom if ev- 

 er produce fruit. The 

 fruit is a roundish or 

 slightly oval; berry 

 of a green color or 

 tinged with violet 

 brown and averaging 

 about an inch in 

 diameter. The pulp 

 is green and very ac- 

 rid. The seeds are 

 white, kidney-shaped 

 and flat. The seed 

 is never sown except 

 for producing new varieties. Seedlings vary greatly and 

 often do not obtain full size until three years old. The tubers 

 are commonly referred to as "seed," but they should be re- 

 garded as cuttings or sets; they are only underground branches 

 filled with starchy matter. They vary much in size, shape 



Fig. 96.— Potato plant showing tubers and roots. 



