POLLINATION.—ENEMIES. 237 
surround it. If an anther is separated and closely ex- 
amined, it will be seen that there are two small openings 
at the tip; it is through these that the pollen normally 
escapes. But this escape does not take place freely un- 
til the flower has matured to such an extent that the 
tips of the anthers stand erect and recede from the 
stigma, leaving the latter standing unsupported. The 
pollen can be most rapidly gathered upon the spatula 
by inserting the point of the metal into the side of the 
anther and opening it by an upward movement of the 
instrument. In this manner a large quantity of pollen 
may be gathered very rapidly, and it is the work of but 
an instant to press it upon the end of the stigma. One 
such treatment, if performed when the surface of the 
stigma is adhesive, is sufficient for each blossom. 
Eggplants are subject to the attacks of all the com- 
mon greenhouse pests, but if care is exercised from the 
beginning, no serious damage need be feared. Green- 
fly is easily overcome by tobacco smoke, or the fumes of 
tobacco extract, while mealy-bug can be overcome by 
’ well-directed streams of water. The foliage of eggplants 
is not easily injured by such applications of water, and 
the insects may be dislodged with impunity as often as 
they appear. The worst pests of eggplant foliage are 
the red spider and his near relative, the mite. The lat- 
ter is especially difficult to treat, as it is not so much 
affected by moisture as the red spider is, and for this 
reason it cannot be so readily overcome. The rough 
foliage of the eggplant is especially well adapted to the 
lodgment of these mites, and when they have once be- 
come established, their extermination is practically im- 
possible. Too much care, therefore, cannot be taken in 
watching for the first appearance of these scourges, and 
in destroying them as soon as discovered. It is well to 
apply water freely to the foliage, even before the insects 
appear, for the leaves do not immediately show their 
presence, and such applications will do no harm. The 
