or Guinea-pepper. See Botany Index.

The bell-pepper produces fruit fit for pickling; for which purpose they must be gathered before they arrive at their full size, while their rind is tender. They must be slit down on one side to get out the seeds, after which they should be soaked two or three days in salt and water; when they are taken out of this and drained, boiling vinegar must be poured on them in a sufficient quantity to cover them, and closely stopped down for two months; then they should be boiled in the vinegar to make them green; but they want no addition of any spice, and are the wholesomest and best pickle in the world. Another species is used for making what is called cayen-butter or pepper-pots, by the inhabitants of America, and which they esteem the best of all the spices. The following is a receipt for making of a pepper-pot: "Take of the ripe seeds of this sort of capsicum, and dry them well in the sun; then put them into an earthen or stone pot, mixing flour between every stratum of pods; and put them into an oven after the baking of bread, that they may be thoroughly dried: after which they must be well cleansed from the flour; and if any of the stalks remain adhering to the pods, they should be taken off, and the pods reduced to a fine powder; to every ounce of this add a pound of wheat flour, and as much leaven as is sufficient for the quantity intended. After this has been properly mixed and wrought, it should be made into small cakes, and baked in the same manner as common cakes of the same size: then cut them into small parts, and bake them again, that they may be as dry and hard as biscuit; which being powdered and sifted, is to be kept for use." This is prodigiously hot and acrimonious, setting the mouth as it were on fire. It is by some recommended as a medicine for flatulences; but it is greatly to be doubted whether all those hot irritating medicines are not productive of more harm than good, in this country at least. If the ripe pods of capsicum are thrown into the fire, they will raise strong and noisome vapours, which occasion vehement sneezing. ing, coughing, and often vomiting, in those who are near the place, or in the room where they are burnt. Some persons have mixed the powder of the pods with snuff, to give to others for diversion; but where it is in quantity, there may be danger in using it; for it will occasion such violent fits of sneezing, as may break the blood-vessels of the head.