EGG-PLANTS OR AUBERGINES 133 



growth, air must be given on all favourable occasions, 

 otherwise the plants will become " drawn " and 

 weak. 



When the main shoot carries two fertile flowers (not 

 double or semi-double ones), the top may be pinched 

 out. This results in the development in due course 

 of four or five branches, each one of which is shortened 

 back a little above the second flower. From -ten to 

 twelve fruits are thus secured on each plant, or from 

 sixty to a hundred or more in each light. After the 

 branches have been stopped in growth by pinching, all 

 other side shoots are rigorously suppressed as they 

 appear, so that the sap shall not be deflected from the 

 swelling fruits. 



The general cultural treatment consists in giving 

 plenty of air on all mild days, to keep the plants as 

 dwarf and sturdy as possible ; watering in the morning 

 as required by the freedom of growth, and an occasional 

 syringing with soapy water in the event of insect 

 attacks. If any of the plants are too weak to stand 

 alone, a stake must be placed to such, and the main 

 stem and branches tied to it with raffia. In the event 

 of the plants becoming too tall for the lights before it 

 is safe to remove these altogether, extra height is 

 secured by placing a second frame on top of the first. 



The fruits from the first crop sown at the end of 

 November generally ripen about five months after 

 sowing the seeds, which brings the season to about 

 the end of April or early in May. 



A succession of fruits may be kept up by sowing 

 seeds every month or six weeks according to require- 

 ments. With each succeeding crop less heat is re- 

 quired in the beds, and at the end of May onwards 



9* 



