TOMATOES AND EGGPLANTS 371 



in order to harden them off. After all danger of frost is 

 past, and the garden soil is well warmed, the plants may 

 be finally transplanted. 



TOMATO plants should set two or four feet apart, ac- 

 cording to training, in rows six feet apart. Elaborate 

 systems of training are often discussed and illustrated, 

 but the simplest device which will hold the plants partly 

 off the ground is all that can be recommended to the 

 beginner. Very moderate pruning will sometimes succeed, 

 but systems of close pruning are to be adopted in garden 

 practice with caution. 



There are four distinct classes of tomatoes, classified 

 on the basis of color of the ripe fruit, viz. : Reds, pinks, 

 whites or creamy yellows, and bright yellows. The 

 yellows are of little value. The creamy yellows, like 

 Golden Queen, are very good dessert fruits. The varie- 

 ties yielding dark red fruits are most popular. Of these 

 Matchless, Stone and Perfection may be safely recom- 

 mended, though there are many others of value. The 

 pink varieties are typified by Beauty, and by Dwarf 

 Champion, which is a plant of odd, dwarf habit, and well 

 suited to very small home gardens. The Cherry and Pear 

 tomatoes are often grown for preserving. (Consult Bailey, 

 Cornell Bull. 32, and other writings.) 



THE HUSK TOMATOES (Physolis) sometimes offered in the 

 catalogues on account of their smaller stature, may be 

 treated more like peppers. 



EGGPLANTS are somewhat difficult to manage in the 

 North. It is a prime necessity that the plants shall 

 be vigorous and healthy at the time of transplanting to 

 open ground. Set two to three feet apart in rows three 

 and one half feet apart, and give plenty of fertilizer and 

 cultivation. New York Improved Large Purple is the 

 type of variety chiefly grown (Fig. 246), though some of 

 the smaller white -fruited sorts will doubtless give satis- 

 faction in the home garden. The plants must always 



