1C:* VEGECULTURE 



habit makes it an excellent pot-plant ; the flowers are of lilac 

 colour, and the fruits of the shape and as large as a hen's egg, 

 and of a pure glistening white are not often used for food. 



CAPSICUMS or RED PEPPER (Capsicum annum) .These 

 ornamental, interesting, and useful plants are grown after the 

 manner of the Tomato or Egg-plant, with perhaps a greater 

 care, and longer housing. By sowing seeds, in heat, during 

 February, pricking the seedlings into pots, shifting later, and 

 growing on, plants can be obtained for planting out in the open 

 in May ; or pot culture may be continued all along. For the 

 latter purpose, Capsicums are more suitable in these isles ; 

 but the large-fruited kinds should be selected, although the 

 smaller sorts (including the Chilies) are not to be despised. A 

 south wall should be reserved for those to be planted outdoors, 

 and the plants for that purpose must be gradually hardened off 

 before placing in their permanent stations ; even thus treated, 

 Capsicums cannot be said to be a success outside the glasshouse. 

 The plants are, after all, much better grown under glass. In 

 pots they assume the dimensions of small bushes, with woody 

 stems, and nothing can be more handsome than a plant covered 

 with large green, red, or yellow fruits. A light, rich soil is 

 necessar}', composed of turfy loam, leaf-mould, cow manure, 

 and sand. Firm planting is also essential to fruiting. Six- 

 inch pots are large enough for the final potting, and frequent 

 syringeing of the plants is desirable during hot weather. The 

 fruits will hang a long time on the branches after they are ripe, 

 and this, of course, adds to the value of the plants for decorative 

 purposes. Frames may be utilized for Capsicum culture if 

 desired. Abundance of air, moisture, and manure-water should 

 be given in every circumstance. Green-fly and red-spider are 

 to be guarded against. The uses of Capsicums are, first, as a 

 pickle ingredient ; second, as a flavouring condiment ; and 

 third, as vegetables, boiled. For the latter purpose, there are 

 varieties in which the accustomed pungency is absent, or nearly 

 so. The best sorts for the amateur are the Elephant's Trunk, 

 Golden Dawn, Chili Pepper, and Celestial; and a packet of 

 mixed seeds will produce a profusion of ornamental fruits of 

 many shapes, in white, green, red, yellow, golden, and scarlet 

 colours. 



THE UNICORN PLANT (Marty ma) .This plant has a 

 valuable asset on the ornamental side, which perhaps prepon- 



