The Florida agriculturist. [volume] (DeLand, Fla.) 1878-1911, 1880-01-14
The Spices Of Commerce. #
NO. III.
Tropical Agriculture.

The Cayenne pepper OF commerce
is obtained chiefly from the pulverized
chillies or fruit pods of one or two
species of capsicum (C0psicaene anna
I'm, Lin, and c.. tdstigiatat''a, Blume)
But a very large number OF species
and varities of capsicum are grown
and used as condiments in all tropical
countries, where there appears to be
a greater necessity of pungent season
ing. ''.'s ~,
sicum is derived from "kapto," to bite,
on account of the hot pungent quail
ties of the pericarp. iA + I
Among the principal species grown
may be named the following: The
cherry pepper or round chilli, (Capsi-
Cum cerasito,me, WILDLY the bonnet
pepper &C. tetrago,aana, Mill; the
bell pepper &C. grossuns, Linz; the
spice or goat pepper &c. .f'attescens,
LINZ and the bird pepper &c. bocc0.
tu,n, Linz. The last named two are
more acrimonious than the others.
The fruits of these several species are
of various forms-round, oblong, cor
date or horned, and either scarlet or
yellow; in some varieties they are so
little pungent as to be used sliced in
salad, in others they are intolerably
biting till the mouth, becomes accus-,
toned to them by habit. The acrid
resin (cdpSicine) in the fruit renders
them hot, pungent and stimulating.
Contrary to general opinion it has
been found on analysis that the seeds
after removal Of the pericarp, and
thoroughly washing and drying them,
are entirely devoid Of acridity and
pungency.
Red pepper may be termed one of
the most useful, condiments in hyg-'
iene. AS stimulant and auxiliary
in digestion it has been considered
invaluable, especially in warm coun-
tries. There are always few OF
these shrubby plants grown about
the dwellings in the tropics to supply
The daily wants of the table, as they
are generally gathered and eaten just
before fully ripe. II y $50 tt'3't
Unfortunately Cayenne pepper is
very frequently adulterated, and
hence reliance can only be placed on
purchasing from respectable whole
sale houses, which have reputation
and character for probity and the sale
of genuine articles. Venetian red,
red ochre and cinnabar are often
added TO darken the color. although
this lis no sign of its excellence, for
the Nepaul and many other Cayenne
peppers are extremely light colored as
they will naturally be if made with
the ground seed alone unmixed with
the redder husks of the. fruit capsule.
AS Cayenne pepper when obtained
pure and used in moderation pro-
notes digestion and so prevents flatu-'
lence, ana is hence undoubtedly SER
viceable to persons Of langnid diges.
ton, so if adulterated with poisonous
substances it is calculated to be highly
injurious. = Y Cgr
The French names for capsioums
are "piment," "poivrons," ''pevrots,"
and "corail OF tie gardens" The
Spanish name for this spice is "agi;"
it was formerly known under the
name of Calicut pepper, and in Ger
arde's time, nearly three centuries
ago, it was sold here under the name
Of GIMME pepper, and it still bears
the name of Guinea pepper in France.
The natives of Brazil consume
great quantities of these peppers, pre-
ferring the small red ones. which are.
of excessive pungency. When they
have no fish they boil several pounds
OF these peppers in little water, and
dip their mandioca bread into the
fiery soup thus formed 'es -
There is an enormous consumption
of chillies in India, as both rich and
poor daily use them, and they form
an important ingredient in the curries
and chutneys in general use, when
ground into a paste between two
stones, with little mustard, lard, oil,
ginger and salt; this forms the only
seasoning which the millions of poor
in the East can obtain to flavor their
insipid rice. f@J z I9yI6
In 1870 there was more than TO-
900, acres under culture with capsi.
Gums in the Madras Presidency, the
largest portion being in Kistna. The
exports from Madras in the tour
years ending 1855 wereis1s 042 cwt.a
Bombay imported in 1873, 1857 cwt.
principally from the Madras 'Presi-
dency, and exported 1928 cwtT In
1877 Sinuonore imnorfed OIL ewt