273 
successful Hemp culture. Hemp is one of the plants yield- 
ing a full and quick return within the season. The summer 
temperatures of St. Petersburg (67° P.) and of Moscow 
(62° P.) admit yet of the cultivation of this plant. 
Capparis spinosa, L. 
South Europe and North Africa. A somewhat shrubby 
and trailing plant, deserving even for the sake of its hand- 
some flowers a place in any garden. It sustains its life in 
the most arid deserts. The frosts of our lowlands do not 
destroy this plant. The flower-buds and young berries 
preserved in vinegar with some salt form the Capers of 
commerce. Samples of Capers, prepared from plants of the 
Botanic Garden, are placed in our Industrial Museum, 
together with many other industrial products emanating 
from the writer’s laboratory. A closely allied and probably 
equally useful plant, Capparis nummularia, is indigenous to 
Northern Australia. The Caper-plant is propagated either 
from seeds or suckers ; it is well able to withstand either 
heat or drought. The buds after their first immersion into 
slightly salted vinegar are strained and afterwards preserved 
in bottles with fresh vinegar. Chemical principle : Glycosid. 
Capsicum annuum, L. 
Central America. An annual herb, which yields the ChilHes 
and thus also the material for Cayenne Pepper. Chemical 
principle : Capsicin, an acrid soft-resinous substance. 
Capsicum baccatum, L. 
The Cherry-Capsicum. A perennial plant. From Brazil 
brought to tropical Africa and Asia, where now other 
Pepper- Capsicums are likewise naturalized. 
Capsicum frutescens, E. 
Tropical America. The berries of this shrubby species are 
likewise converted into Cayenne Pepper. 
Capsicum longum, Candolle. 
Some of the hottest parts of America An annual herb, 
also yielding Cayenne Pepper. Our summers admit of the 
successful growth of at least the annual species of Capsicum 
in all the lowlands. 
