Vegetables with Edible Fruits 201 



roots extend. During rainy weather, it will be necessary 

 to cultivate the field deeply as often as twice a week. 

 This cannot, of course, be done when the field is on strong 

 clay soil. During dry weather, merely stirring the upper 

 stratum to the depth of three or four inches every week or 

 ten days will be sufficient. 



Gathering eggplants. 



It is very important to be able to tell just when the fruit 

 is ready for market. While the early crop brings the best 

 price usually, the fruit is liable to be too small and green 

 for the market. Fruit that is too ripe is worthless. As 

 soon as the berry turns from a lustrous purple to a dull 

 color, you may suspect that the shipping stage has arrived. 

 The best way is to test a few eggs by cutting through the 

 center ; if the seeds are well formed, the time for gathering 

 has arrived. They should, however, not be allowed to 

 remain on the plant until the seed-coat begins to harden. 

 In case of Black Pekin or Improved New York Purple, 

 the fruits are about seven inches long. The fruit should 

 be cut with a stem about } inch long. 



Marketing. 



Eggplant is usually marketed in barrel-crates and for 

 distant markets each fruit is wrapped in heavy paper. 



Seed saving. 



Eggplants that bear exceptional crops of good fruit may 

 be set aside for choice seed. Considerable time elapses 

 between the marketing time and the ripening of the seed. 

 Usually the fruits intended for seed may be left on the 



