680 



PRACTICE OF GARDENING. 



PART III. 



4268. The varieties are 



The oval-shaped white | The globular-shaped white | The purple, or violet -colored, of both forms. 



4269. Culture. The plants are raised from seed, which may be sown in March or April, in a hot-bed, 

 in light rich earth. After they have shown two or three proper leaves, they may either be pricked out 

 in another hot-bed, or planted in small pots, to be shifted in rotation, till in size No. Ifi. in which 

 they will produce their fruit. If the plants, instead of being shifted into fruiting-pots, are planted 

 against a wall, or in a warm border in June, they will fruit in the open air, if the season is not unusually 

 wet and cold. 



4270. To save seed. Gather one or two ripe berries of each sort, large and well formed, and preserve 

 them entire, till the seed is wanted for sowing. 



SUBSECT. 3. Capsicum. Capsicum, L. Pent. Monog. L. and Solanacece, B. P. 

 Pintent, Fr. ; Spanischer Pfeffer, Ger. ; and Peberonc, Ital. 



4271. Of the capsicum there are three species in cultivation. 



4272. The annual capsicum, or Guinea-pepper, is the C. annuum, L. (Knorr. Thess. 2. 

 t. C. 6.), an annual plant, which, though a native of India, endures the open air in 

 this country during summer. It was introduced in 1548, and was cultivated in Gerrard's 

 time. It rises about two feet high, producing long, linear, dark-green leaves, on a 

 branchy stem. The flowers are white, and appear in June and July, succeeded by ber- 

 ries, varying in shape and color, and either long-podded, red and yellow ; short-podded, 

 red and yellow ; round short-podded, red and yellow ; or heart-shaped, red and yellow. 



4273. The cherry-pepper (C. cerasiforme), (Hort. j&to.), is an annual plant, a native of 

 the West Indies, which also stands our summer. It was introduced in 1759, has the 

 same general character of foliage as the Guinea-pepper, and flowers from June to Sep- 

 tember. It is characterised by its small cherry-shaped fruit, which is sometimes heart- 

 shaped, bell-shaped, or angular, and in color red or yellow. 



4274. The bell-pepper (C. grossum), (Bexl. Eyst. Aut. 1. 1. 11. f. 1.), is a stove biennial, 

 a native of India, and introduced in 1759. It is of humble growth, flowers in July, 

 and produces large red or yellow berries. It will endure the open air in summer, but 

 requires a place in the stove during the winter and spring months. 



4275. Use. The green pods, or inflated berries, of all these varieties, are used for 

 pickling. They are sometimes also used in their ripe state, when they form a spice of 

 the hottest quality, known by the name of Cayenne pepper. The berries of the last 

 named species are deemed better for pickling than the others, the skin being thick, 

 pulpy, and tender. 



4276. Culture. All the three species, with their varieties, are raised from seed ; a small parcel, or the 

 produce of two pods, will be a sufficient quantity of each or of any one variety for ordinary supply. Sow 

 all the annual sorts at the end of March, " or beginning or middle of April, in a moderate hot-bed, under 

 a frame. Cover the seed a quarter of an inch deep. When the plants are two or three inches in growth, 

 prick some into a new slender hot-bed, to forward them for final transplanting ; or in default of this, 

 prick them into a bed of natural earth, at the beginning of May, if fine, settled, warm weather ; defend 

 them with a frame, or awning of mats, at night and in cold vicissitudes. Give water lightly at planting, 

 and occasionally afterwards in moderate supplies, to assist their fresh rooting and subsequent growth. At 

 the beginning of June, when the weather is settled warm, transplant them into the open garden, in beds 

 of light rich earth, from twelve to eighteen inches apart, giving water. They will thus advance freely, 

 flower in July or August, and produce plenty of pods from August till the end of September. Under the 

 deficiency of a hot-bed or stove, or for succession, annual capsicums may be raised in a bed of light rich 

 earth, under a hand-glass ; but the sowing must be deferred to fine warm weather in May. Give the 

 plants air in the day, but cover them close at night, till danger from frost is over. At the close of June, 

 transplant as above. The perennial species must be wintered in the stove." (Abercrombie.) 



4277. To save seed. Leave one or two of the largest and handsomest shaped pods to ripen in autumn ; 

 after gathering them, the best way is to hang them up in a dry place, and not take out the seed till 

 wanted for sowing in spring. 



SUBSECT. 4. Samphire, three Species of different Orders and Genera* 



4278. Common samphire is the Crithmum Mari- 

 timum, L. (Eng. Sot. 819.); Pent. Dig. L. and 

 UmbeUiferce, J. Perce-pierre, or Saint Pierre, 

 Fr. ; Meerfenchel, Ger. ; and Finochio marino, 

 Ital. (fig. 475. a) It is a perennial plant, a 

 native of Britain, and found on rocky cliffs by the 

 sea, and in dry stone walls. The root-leaves are 

 triternate, those of the stem lanceolate and fleshy; 

 the flowers appear on a stem of about eighteen 

 inches high in August, and are of a yellow color. 

 The name samphire is a corruption of sampler, and 

 this again a corruption of the French name Saint 

 Pierre. 



4279. Use. Samphire forms an excellent 

 pickle, and a frequent addition to salads. In 

 taste, it is crisp and aromatic, and constitutes a 

 light and wholesome condiment. It is generally 

 gathered in places where it is found native ; and 

 the allusion to the practice by Shakspeare, in his 



description of Dover cliff, is well known. The plant is also used medicinally. 



