244. TROPICAL AGRICULTURE 



plants in almost every garden throughout the Tropics and even 

 in temperate climates. C. minimum, or bird pepper, attains a 

 height of 2 or 3 feet. The leaves are thin and narrowly lanceo- 

 late and the white flowers are about J4 inch in diameter. The 

 fruit is of an orange or scarlet color, oblong in shape, and 

 J4 to % inch in length. This plant is extensively cultivated 

 in East Indies, Zanzibar, Japan, and various other tropical 

 countries. It is the source of most of the cayenne pepper of 

 commerce. C. annuum is taller and bears larger leaves and 

 pods, 3 inches in length. This pepper is commonly called 

 capsicum or pod pepper and is extensively cultivated in Cali- 

 fornia and the Southern States. If grown as annuals, the 

 crop is harvested in about 8 months. In the Tropics the plants 

 may be allowed to stand for 3 years or more. It is propagated 

 by seed and planted at distances which allow from 6,000 

 to 10,000 plants per acre. The ordinary yield of dried 

 chilies per acre varies from 1,000 to 1,500 pounds an- 

 nually. 



The bird pepper pods are thoroughly dried in the sun and 

 then in an oven, after which the pods are beaten to a powder. 

 In the further preparation of the material about 15 times as 

 much flour is added to the beaten pepper powder and the 

 mixture is then baked and later ground to make the common 

 red or cayenne pepper of the trade. Capsicum peppers are 

 used in curry, in Hungarian paprika, in tabasco sauce, as red 

 or cayenne pepper, as feed for cage birds and domestic fowls, 

 and in medicine. 



In India it appears that chilies do best on sandy loam and 

 alluvial soils or on upland soils containing an abundance of 

 lime. The crop is always affected favorably by a previous crop 

 of legumes. Chilies may be allowed to grow for many 

 years as ornamental plants or for household use. Poultry 

 raisers quite commonly have a few of these plants in 

 chicken yards. Most domestic fowls appear to be fond of 

 the peppers. 



