366 VEGETABLE FORCING 



for winter forcing, but the spring crop does very well in 

 solid ground beds. 



The soil for eggplants should be sandy if possible and 

 well enriched with rotten manure. This plant makes the 

 most rapid growth and produces the largest fruits when 

 the soil is filled with decaying vegetable matter. 



The eggplant does not need a large amount of water. 

 It thrives best when the soil is only fairly moist. 



No trimming or tying is necessary, but the pollination 

 of the flowers must have careful attention. The fruits 

 set without being fertilized, but they never develop to 

 edible size. Hand pollination, as explained for melons, 

 page 352, is most thorough and unquestionably the best 

 method for winter eggplants, but bees (page 332) are 

 satisfactory for the spring crop. 



The eggplant is subject to the attack of most of the 

 greenhouse insect pests, and only constant vigilance will 

 prevent serious injuries. 



KOHL-RABI 



A few greenhouse growers have tried kohl-rabi (Fig. 

 129), and some report that the profits are at least fairly 

 satisfactory. The plants are started in the same way as 

 cabbage. Seed may be sown in beds or flats and the 

 plants at three or four weeks of age pricked into flats. A 

 month later they will be ready for the ground beds, or the 

 raised benches. Six to 8 inches between plants will pro- 

 vide space for the development of good roots. White 

 Vienna is an excellent forcing variety. The tender stems 

 are of the highest quality. 



MINTS 



The different kinds of mint, especially sage and spear- 

 mint, are easily grown in greenhouses which provide 

 about the same conditions of heat and moisture as are 



