Pepper — Rusk Tomato 



409 



The greatest demand is for the making of mixed pickles, 

 and for this purpose the small Cayenne, Chili, and Cran- 

 berry varieties are grown. Fig. 129. The large sweet 

 peppers," of the Sweet Mountain and Ruby King type, 

 are used for the dish known as "stuffed peppers." 



The plants are started in frames, and are set eight to 

 twelve inches apart in the row. There are no serious 

 pests or diseases. 



The pepper (often called "red pepper," although there are yel- 

 low-fruited and white-fruited varieties) is a Capsicum, the common 

 garden forms now being referred to one species, C. annuum. It is 

 very distinct from the pepper of commerce, which is the fruit of 

 Piper nigrum, of another family. The capsicums are native to 

 the American tropics. For history, see Sturtevant, Amer. Nat., 

 Feb., 1890, pp. 151-157; also Irish's monograph in 9th Eept. Mo. 

 Bot. Gard., pp. 53-110, with many plates (1898). Capsicum annuum 

 is remarkably variable, and many of the cultivated forms have been 

 described as species at one time or another. Originally the fruit 

 had two cells or compart- 

 ments, but under the in- 

 fluence of domestication, 

 the compartments have 

 been multiplied. 



HUSK TOMATO 



Two or three spe- 

 cies of Physalis are 

 cultivated as husk to- 

 mato and strawberry 

 tomato. They are 

 very diffuse or even decumbent hairy herbs that produce 

 a yellowish often glutinous berry inside a papery husk. 



Fig. 130. Fruit of a husk tomato. 

 Natural size. 



