PEPPERS 341 



have the pungency localized. The plants of this group vary 

 greatly in size, form of leaf and fruit, as well as in their length 

 of life. In temperate regions they are all classed as annuals, 

 but under tropical conditions several varieties are perennials of 

 a more or less woody character. These plants are all classed as 

 Capsicum annuum . 1 



Importance of the pepper. Commercially the pepper is one of 

 the minor crops. It is more important as a market-garden than 

 as a truck crop, for all kinds find a place in the market garden, 

 while only sweet peppers are extensively grown for shipment. 

 The Tabasco pepper is, perhaps, the best-known representative of 

 the group, for it is found on nearly every table in the land. The 

 Paprika is a well-known sweet pepper, the cultivation of which has 

 but recently been popularized in the United States. 



Methods of cultivation. For best results the pepper should be 

 planted on rich garden loam, but the plant thrives remarkably well 

 on lands of moderate fertility if in good tilth. 



Young pepper plants are quite tender and do best if treated the 

 same as eggplants and tomatoes. It is best to plant the seeds about 

 a quarter of an inch deep, in rows 2 or 2\ inches apart, in a well- 

 prepared compost either in flats in the greenhouse or in a hotbed. 

 After the first true leaves have developed, the young plants should 

 either be transplanted to stand 2 by 2 inches apart or be placed 

 separately in thumb pots. 



As the plants are sensitive to frost they should not be placed in 

 the open until the danger of frost is past. No advantage is gained 

 by placing plants which, like the pepper, require a high tempera- 

 ture in the open before the temperature conditions are congenial. 

 The pepper should be planted in the field at the same time as 

 the tomato. 



The individual plants should stand 15 to 1 8 inches apart in the 

 row and the space between rows should be wide enough to allow 

 cultivation with horse-power implements. Some of the very dwarf 

 types of peppers may be planted as close as 8 or 10 inches apart 

 in the row. The subsequent cultivation of the crop consists in 

 keeping the soil well stirred and free from weeds. 



1 A comprehensive study of the varieties of the pepper is reported by Irish, 

 of the Shaw Botanic Gardens. 



