16 



BULLETIN 43, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



period of growth. In South Carolina, peppers grow until the killing- 

 frosts begin : therefore cultivation is continued until the harvesting 

 of the crop is begun in July. 



FERTILIZERS. 



Except in very fertile soils, fertilizers should be used, for, like most 

 crops, peppers thrive best in soils rich in organic matter. The addi- 

 tion of stable manure is found to be very beneficial. Very satisfac- 

 tory results have also been obtained by the application of 500 to 

 1.000 pounds of a mixture containing two parts of cottonseed meal, 

 two parts of acid phosphate (14 per cent), and one part of kainit. 

 Excellent results also followed the application of about 600 pounds 

 of a complete fertilizer containing 4 per cent of ammonia, 8 per cent 



Pig. 6.- — A paprika pepper field, showing the arrangement of the plants. 



of phosphoric acid, and 4 per cent of potash, reinforced by 100 pounds 

 of sodium nitrate per acre. Half of this complete fertilizer, together 

 with the sodium nitrate, was used in two side applications to the crop, 

 the first being made about the last of May and the second about the 

 last of June. The best results were obtained by an application, pre- 

 vious to transferring the plants to the field, of 500 pounds per acre of a 

 mixture of two parts of cottonseed meal (17 per cent ammonia), two 

 parts of acid phosphate (14 per cent), and one part of kainit (12 

 per cent). In June an application was made of 500 pounds per acre 

 of the same mixture, together with 100 pounds of 18 per cent sodium 

 nitrate, to each side of the rows of peppers just previous to cultiva- 

 tion. Side applications of available fertilizers are to be recom- 

 mended for this crop on account of its long period of growth. 



