598 MISCELLANEOUS VEGETABLES. 



into the open ground until the commencement of summer 

 weather, when they may be set out in rows two feet apart, 

 and two feet asunder in the rows. Keep the ground free 

 from weeds, earth up the plants a little in the process of 

 cultivation, and by the last of August, or beginning of 

 September, abundance of fruit will be produced for the 

 table. 



If no hot-bed is at hand, sufficient seedling plants for a 

 small garden may be easily raised by sowing a few seeds in 

 March in common flower-pots, and placing them in the sunny 

 window of the sitting-room or kitchen. 



In favorable seasons, a crop may be obtained by sowing 

 the seeds in May in the open ground, and transplanting the 

 seedlings, when two or three inches high, in a warm and 

 sheltered situation. 



Use. " It is used both boiled and stewed in sauces, like 

 the Tomato. A favorite method among the French is to 

 scoop out the seeds, fill up the cavity with sweet herbs, and 

 fry the fruit whole." Mclnt. 



A common method of cooking and serving is as follows : 

 Cut the fruit in slices half an inch thick ; press out as much 

 of the juice as possible, and parboil ; after which, fry the 

 slices in batter, or in fresh butter in which grated bread has 

 been mixed ; season with pepper, salt, and sweet herbs, to 

 suit ; or, if preferred, the slices may be broiled as steaks or 

 chops. 



Varieties. 



American Fruit remarkably large, often measuring 



Large Pur- 



ple. eight inches in depth, seven inches in diameter, 



and weighing four or five pounds ; skin deep 

 purple, with occasional stripes of green about the stem ; 

 plant hardy and stocky. 



The American Large Purple is more generally cultivated 



