The U. S. Standards describe Red Pepper as the dried ripe fruit of any species of capsicum, a genus of the _nightshade family_ indigenous to the American tropics. It is now cultivated in nearly all warm and temperate countries, both commercially and in the kitchen-garden. The leading commercial varieties are Zanzibar, Africa, Indias, and Japan. Paprika Paprika is botanically described as _Capsicum annuum_. The pods are large and brilliant to dark red. It grows in the temperate and torrid zones. It is cultivated principally in Spain (_Pimiinton_) and Hungary. The Spanish-grown product is sweet and mild, the Hungarian usually of a mildly pungent flavor. Paprika is used in cooking for its color as well as flavor. It is rapidly finding favor among American housewives. [Illustration: (Cinnamon or Cassia)] Ceylon Cinnamon Batavia Cinnamon Chinese Cassia (Cinnamon) Saigon Rolls China Cassia Rolls Cassia Buds Buds Natural size, all others ½ Natural size Cassia and Cinnamon The terms Cassia and Cinnamon, although they represent two separate species of the genus _Cinnamomum_ belonging to the Laurel family, in commerce are interchangeable. [Illustration: A Corner of One of the Warerooms] Cinnamon Is the thin, inner bark of the tree, of a pale yellowish brown color, and is found on the market in long, quill-like rolls, the smaller rolls being incased in the larger. The small dark spots on the outer surface correspond to points where the leaves were attached to the stem. True Cinnamon is native to the Island of Ceylon, but is cultivated in tropical Asia, Sumatra and Java. The yield of Ceylon Cinnamon is relatively small. Its use in the United States is limited. Cassia The ordinary commercial Cassia is the bark of the _Cinnamomum Cassia_, which comes from China, Japan, Indo-China and India. It is usually darker in color than true Cinnamon, rougher, and about four times as thick. Cinnamon and Cassia range in value according to type and quality, although much depends on actual flavoring strength. They are chiefly valued in the order named—Saigon, Batavia or Java and China. Those desiring a pure Ceylon Cinnamon can secure it from McCormick & Company of Baltimore, Importers and Grinders of Spices. Choicest Cassia, in rolls or ground, is put up under their Bee Brand and Banquet Brand Trade Marks. [Illustration: Bee Brand Select Stick Cinnamon] [Illustration: (Mace or Nutmeg)] Mace Nutmeg Plant Green Fruit Macassar Nutmeg Cross section of Fruit Ripe Fruit in act of bursting Nutmeg, in shell Shell partly removed Cross section of Nutmeg Penang Nutmegs ½ Natural size Nutmegs and Mace