12 BULLETIN 43, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



literature. The files of the Oil, Paint, and Drug Reporter show that 

 Hungarian paprika during the past two and a half years, during 

 which this article has been given separate mention in these price lists, 

 has been a rather steady item. The quotations rose in the latter half 

 of the year 1910 from 16| to 18 cents as a minimum to 25 cents as a 

 maximum price. During 1911 the price seems to have been prac- 

 tically stationary at 18 to 25 cents throughout the year. In 1912 a 

 further advance was made to a range between 20, 30, and even 34 

 cents per pound late in the year. High prices have continued to 

 prevail during 1913. although November Quotations show a range 

 between 27 and 32 cents. 



In this connection, it is to be noted that the product of the Depart- 

 ment of Agriculture's experimental work was disposed of not in a 

 ground condition but as whole pods, chiefly without the stems. The 

 prices obtained for first-grade pods, as will be seen in consulting the 

 details of the experiment (p. 22), have varied during the above period 

 between 8.2 and 10.4 cents per pound, dry weight, on the cars at the 

 point of production. 



Transportation considerations enter as an important factor into 

 the growing of paprika on a commercial basis. The purchaser prefers 

 to have the pods in as nearly a whole condition as possible, since in 

 whole pods no question can arise concerning the introduction into 

 the shipment of pepper seed in excess of the natural proportions. 

 This point assumes much importance in connection with the ruling 

 of the Board of Food and Drug Inspection concerning the use of 

 the name " paprika." referred to in the discussion of the legal con- 

 siderations bearing on the paprika problem (p. 3). On account of 

 this requirement it is important to prevent crushing ; also, in order to 

 secure the benefits of the better appearance presented by the whole 

 pods, it is necessary to pack the light pods rather loosely. This makes 

 a shipment very bulky and materially affects the cost of transporta- 

 tion. 



CULTURAL CONSIDERATIONS. 



The paprika pepper is a herbaceous annual plant which in this 

 country fruits until checked b}^ frost. In view of this fact the length 

 of the crop season is an important factor in determining the jdeld. 

 The experiments on which this bulletin is based were carried out at 

 Ebenezer. Florence County, S. C. about 7 miles from Florence, and 

 the results here reported are applicable in detail only to conditions 

 of soil and climate similar to those found in that general region. It 

 is believed, however, that the chief features here demonstrated can 

 Ik- readily adapted to other localities where the conditions are not too 

 dissimilar. 



