738 



fulaess of the plant. Experiments are in progress to get light on the 

 particular relations of transplanting to fruitfulness. " It is rare that 

 all the plants in a large plantation of the common or late varieties 

 mature fruit, and such kinds as Black Pekin, New York, and Giant 

 Kouud Purple rarely mature more than two large fruits to the plant in 

 this latitude, and often only one. The Early Dwarf Purple, Early Long 

 Purple, and other early and medium varieties mature from four to eight 

 fruits without difficulty." The value of continuous and careful selection 

 with a view to securing uniformity in the setting of plants and the 

 maturing of fruit is enforced by the experience of the station. " Breed- 

 ing plants of uniform productiveness is the most imjiortant field in egg- 

 plant experimentation at present." 



Varieties. — Illustrated descriptive notes on fifteen American, French, 

 and Japanese varieties. 



The varieties of egg-plants, tliougli not numerous, are exceedingly various. They 

 represent wide differences in almost every particular, as habit, pubescence, spin- 

 iness, color of plant and fruit, size and shape and season of fruit. The very large 

 varieties, as New Yorlc Improved and Black Pekin, are most popular in the markets, 

 but some of the earlier and smaller kinds are better. The white varieties find little 

 demand in the markets, and there is an impression that they are unwholesome, but 

 they possess no other fault than a hardness of flesh and rind in the case of the small 

 varieties. The White Chinese is as good as any of the purple sorts for table use. 



Experience in crossing. — In 1889 numerous crosses were made in three 

 series, viz., {a) Round White with Black Pekin, {b) Giant Round Pur- 

 ple with White Chinese, and (c) Long White with Black Pekin. The 

 seeds from these crosses were sown in 1890 and the results are stated in 

 this article. The difference in productiveness of the different series 

 was very marked, the percentages of barren plants being as follows: 

 Series A, 22; B, 65; C, 80. In every case of artificial pollination fewer 

 seeds were obtained than from those plants left to mature. The reason 

 for this is not clear, and investigations will be made with reference to the 

 laws controlling the influence of pollen. A few tests have indicated 

 that the eggplant may produce fruit without pollination. " Numerous 

 crosses and selections have been made in these series and elsewhere for 

 future investigations." 



Summary. — ■ 



(1) Egg-plants are adapted to cultivation in the North. The requisites of success 

 in growing them are these : early starting ; warm quarters ; vigorous plants ; rather 

 late transplanting to the field ; warm, rich, and rather moist soil ; constant attention 

 to potato beetles ; frequent cultivation. 



(2) The best varieties for private use are Early Dwarf Purple, Early Long Purple, 

 White Chinese, with perhaj)s Black Pekin for late. 



{'i) The best market varieties are New York Improved and Black Pekin, with per- 

 haps Early Long Purple for the first demands. 



(4) In crossing difterent races of egg-plants, the purple-fruited types appear to be 

 stronger in their power to transmit color to oft'spring than do the white-fruited types; 

 and this appears to hold whether the purple type is used as the staminate or the pis- 

 tillate iiarent. 



