LUTHER BURBANK 



attention, supplies an important group of plants 

 that are prominent among the producers of 

 pungent and aromatic flavors. 



These relatives of the sunberry, tomato, potato, 

 and eggplant, are the peppers, of which there are 

 large numbers of cultivated varieties in difTerent 

 countries. 



The different peppers vary from the size of a 

 barleycorn to that of a very large apple, and in 

 color from black through scarlet, crimson, orange, 

 and yellow to pure white. In form, some are 

 nearly flat, others oval, yet others roimd or heart- 

 shaped, or like drawn-out cylinders. Some are 

 annuals and others perennials. As to flavor, some 

 are sweet and palatable, while others are among 

 the most pungent and fiery of substances that are 

 ever purposely put into the mouth. 



I have worked quite extensively with the 

 peppers, hybridizing them in various ways, and 

 raising large numbers of the seedlings. 



In crossing the very small varieties with the 

 very large "^nes, and the very light-colored with the 

 very dark-colored, one produces the most unusual 

 combinations. Even in the first generation some 

 bushes appear having diminutive fruits and others 

 having unusually large ones; and there is a display 

 of different colors, including stripes, that is quite 

 beyond prediction. 



[176] 



