346 GARDENING FOR PLEASURE. 



PEPPER OR CAPSICUM ('Japsieum annuum). 



The Pepper is sown and cultivated in all respects the 

 same us the Egg Plant, which may be referred to. The 

 leading varieties are the Bull Nose or Bell (scarlet), the 

 Golden Dawn (yellow), and the Long Rod Cayenne. 



POTATO (Solanum tuberosum). 



Potatoes are grown by planting the tubers, either cut 

 or whole, it makes but little difference which. If large, 

 cut them ; if small, leave them uncut. They are usually 

 planted in drills three feet apart, and four or five inches 

 deep. The ground should be prepared by first spreading 

 in the drills a good coat of stable manure, say two inches 

 deep, upon which are planted the tubers or sets, at dis- 

 tances of eight or ten inches apart. In a warm exposure 

 planting may be begun early in April, and the crop will 

 be fit for use in June. Some of the small-leaved varieties, 

 such as the Ash-leaved Kidney, were formerly grown 

 under hand glasses, or in frames, to forward them; but 

 now this is hardly worth the trouble, as our supplies from 

 southern latitudes are so early that it is no longer desir- 

 able to force the crop. The generally favorite variety for 

 early crops is still the Early Rose. Among other greatly 

 improved sorts for the general crop are Early Puritan, 

 Vanguard, and Beauty of Hebron ; but there are scores of 

 other varieties which have a special or local reputation. 



PUMPKIN (CucurWa Ftpo). 



Pumpkins are still grown in many gardens with a te- 

 nacity that is astonishing, when it should long ago have 

 been known that they have no business there, as their 

 first cousins, the Squashes, are eminently superior for 

 every culinary purpose whatever. The Pumpkin is a 

 valuable product for the farm, as a food for cattle, but 



