GROWING EGG PLANTS. 271 



not excessive, and is perfectly at home as well in the coast 

 regions, both valley and uplands, if adequately watered. 

 It is not very exacting in soil character, and can be safely 

 undertaken on any good garden land if well cultivated 

 and manured, for the plant is a strong feeder and should 

 grow fast and regularly. 



Growing the Plants. Egg plants can be easily grown 

 from seed by the use of seed boxes, with bottom heat or 

 in an ordinary hot-bed, all of which are described in the 

 chapter on propagation. The seed should be covered 

 about half an inch. Extra regard must be had for main- 

 taining a uniform and rather high temperature for the 

 starting and early growth of the seedlings, as the seed 

 germinates slowly and needs encouraging conditions. 

 Transplanting the seedlings twice before planting out 

 renders them more stocky. Planting out should only be 

 done when the soil is warm and in good condition, for it is 

 necessary that the seedlings should quickly take hold and 

 proceed vigorously afterwards. Plants may be grown 

 from two and a half to three feet apart each way. 



After Treatment. The best of cultivation must be given 

 to prevent any check or setback in the growth of the 

 plants. Irrigation must be used as necessary to advance 

 this result. It is desirable that the plant should be pre- 

 vented from setting too many fruits and pinching off the 

 terminals to prevent too great running out is often ad- 

 visable. 



Varieties. The New York Improved Purple is the fa- 

 vorite variety and is chiefly grown. Black Beauty, a deep 

 purple, a little earlier but usually not quite so large is also 

 popular. Other sorts, though much less popular, are the 

 Early Long Purple and the Black Pekin. The White Pearl 

 is the best of the whites which are, however, in less de- 

 mand. The Tree Egg Plant is hardy, upright and escapes 

 some ills of lower growing varieties in bad weather. 



