76 MARKET GARDENING 



X. EGG PLANT 



Soil. The lighter soils only are adapted to the growing 

 of egg plant, heavy soils being too cold for this vegetable. 

 The 'soil should be rich in humus, should be deep, and 

 should have a southern exposure to insure warmth. 



Starting the Plants. The egg plant must be started 

 under glass, to be ready for the field by early June. The 

 seed should be sown in flats, or a good seed bed, about the 

 middle of March and the seedlings should be pricked out 

 to two by two inches. The temperature must be kept high, 

 not less than 65 F. at any time. The plants must maintain 

 a steady growth; if checked in any way the yield will be 

 far short of normal. 



Planting. The plants should not be set in the field 

 until the ground is thoroughly warmed. The distance 

 between plants should be two by three 'to four by four feet. 



Fertilizer. A liberal supply of nitrogen is necessary 

 for the quick growth of the plants. The soil should be rich 

 in humus; at least 20 cords to the acre of rotted manure 

 should be ploughed under. An application of 1000 to 2000 

 pounds per acre of a high grade, complete fertilizer should 

 be made and harrowed in previous to planting. A top 

 dressing of nitrate of soda, at the rate of 200 pounds per 

 acre, may be made after the plants have become well estab- 

 lished. 



XI. HORSE-RADISH 



Desirability. In old-fashioned gardens, horse-radish 

 was considered one of the essential vegetables and its pop- 

 ularity still exists, the ground-up roots mixed with vinegar 

 being much relished as a sauce with cold meats and shell 

 fish. In the home garden, horse-radish is usually grown in 



