Montpelier examiner. [volume] (Montpelier, Idaho) 1895-1937, 1915-07-09

ripened fruit. Possibly the pepper 10
a little more sensitive to cold, hard,
ill-drained soil than many other plants,
as when the growth is checked often
very little fruit is borne by the plant
Therefore, one of the essentials is a
well-drained soil put in the best me-
chanical condition, and a delayed
planting until reasonably sure of con-
slant warm weather with the least
possible danger from cold or wet. Like
the tomato the plants may be propa-
gated by planting the seed In the field,
but better yield is usually obtained
where the plants are started in beds
or boxes and transplanted to the open
field. Often the profit on a pepper crop
is determined by the character of the
plants set
Soil for the Seeded.
In preparing the soil to be put in the
seeded for starting the pepper plants
good mixture is made of 0ne-third
black garden soil. one-third well-rotted
manure and one-third coarse-grained
sand These proportions. however,
vary with the character of the soil,
whether heavy and compact or sandy;
If the former, use less soil and more
sand; If the latter, less sand. If the
manure is light, poorly rotted, take
pains to make the soil as light as pos
sible and use larger proportion. 1t is
important that the ingredients be we'll
mixed, which can be best accomplished
by throwing them into a conical heap,
/ oh fhfo nd thaFl nadoinp II
through a coarse sieve of about one
half-inch mesh. Carefully level about
two to three inches depth of this soil
| in a shallow box and water as thor
oughly as possible without making 1t
actually muddy. Let 1t stand for at
least an hour and then add about one
half inch of fresh soil, and in this
plant the seed either in drills about
one-quarter inch deep or scattered over
the surface and evenly covered with
from one-quarter to one-half inch of
fresh earth.
If the box is to be exposed to the
sun it is we'll to cover with a paper.
Care must be taken to remove this be-
fore the young plants appear. which
they should do in from seven to twelve
days. The box should be kept where
the temperature can be held as uni
formly as possible at so to so degrees.
1t might run higher In midday, but
termination will be checked In proper
ton as it runs lower. The young plants
IL crowded become bleached and ten
der. Better pull and transplant, or
even throw away some of the seed
lings rather than have the whole plant
ing permanently injured. AS soon as
the central bud Is well developed the
seedlings should be transplanted, set
ting them from one to three inches
apart. according to the size at which 1t
is planned they should go into the per-
manent place in the field.
The soil Of the plant bed should not
become compact and hard. Keep 1t
friable so as to enable the plants to
be pulled for setting with the least pos
sible injury to the roots. During the
termination Of the seed and the
growth of the young plants carefully
} avoid oyerwatering. Don't water un-
less the plants show by tendency to
wilt that they need 1t; then give an
} abundance, applying 1t In the morning
or evening rather than at midday. For
five or six days before transplanting
allow the beds to become as dry as
possible without the plants willing.
then, eight or twelve hours before the
plants are to go to the field give the
: bed an abundant watering.
: In the meantime the soil of the field
should have been made as friable as
possible by repeated cultivation. If II
: is likely to be infested by cutworms
, keep it clear of every terminating weed
: for ten days before setting the plants
t and about twenty-four hours before set
I ting them scatter cut clover which has
7 been sprinkled with paris green wa
, ter. The hungry worms will go long
! distances to reach this green food and
7 many of them will be killed.
4 In order to facilitate the gathering
3 Of the peppers with the least possible
q injury to the plants, it is advantageous
9 to leave every fourth row vacant, II
s necessary. crowding the plants which
: should go into the fourth with the
e other three rows.
I After setting the plants give the fell
= a thorough cultivation. which SHOULD
: be repeated as often as practical with
q out injuring the plants.