118 



THE BOOK OF VEGETABLES 



short-season climates. There are troublesome diseases 

 and pests. 



Soil. Eggplant does best on a well-drained sandy 

 loam; the wetter and harder, the worse for the crop. 

 The land should be in the best of tilth, and very rich 

 and quick. Into each hill fork compost and a handful of 

 high-grade commercial fertilizer, best in the formula of 



Fig. 58. Sprays of dwarf Eggplant. The dwarfs are 

 best for northern culture. 



nitrogen 4 per cent, phosphoric acid 8 per cent, potash 

 10 per cent. A sunny exposure is desirable. 



Distances are according to variety; dwarfs, two feet 

 by three feet; standards, three feet by four feet. If 

 the soil is very rich, and the season long, more room 

 may be given. 



