

XI 



CAPSICUMS 



371 



can be used than in the untilled soils of Malaya and 

 most of the East. 



Mukerji continues to say that when the plants have 

 established themselves in raised beds well protected 

 from stagnant water their roots should be partially 

 exposed to light and air by removing the earth from 

 their bottom. A month after this mustard cake at the 

 rate of 6 maunds per acre is put at the bottom of each 

 plant, and the plant earthed up at the same time. The 

 field should be kept clean of weeds, two hand-weedings 

 and two wheel-hoeings being recommended. One or 

 two irrigations may be required after November, and a 

 hoeing after each irrigation. 



December to February is the proper harvest season 

 for ripe chilies, though chilies are plucked green in 

 October and November, and sent fresh to market. 

 Plucking should be done about four times, five men 

 being required for an acre each time. 



The ripe chilies are spread out in the sun for a 

 fortnight. Night dew does them no harm and they 

 may be left out day and night for a fortnight, but if 

 rain is feared they must be brought indoors. 



He gives the cost per acre as follows : 



Ploughing and making of beds 



Transplanting 



Two earthings 



Two hand-hoeings 



Two wheel-hoeings 



One irrigation 



One hoeing with spades after irrigation 



Plucking and drying 



Rent .... 



Total 



R. A. P. 



12 

 280 

 600 

 600 

 1 8 

 280 

 380 

 500 

 300 



42 



In Ceylon, Drieberg says that the chilies are usually 

 grown in mixed cultivations, being grown with betel 

 pepper or other crops. 



Tropical Africa. We have few details of cultiva- 

 tion in Africa except in Zanzibar and Temba. It 



is 



