342 THE KITCHEN GARDEN. [APRIL 



CAPSICUMS OR RED PEPPERS. 



Sow capsicums towards the end of this month on a warm border, 

 to produce plants for planting out towards the latter end of May, or 

 beginning of June ; the large heart-shaped capsicum is in the greatest 

 estimation for pickling, but the small upright kinds are the strongest 

 for pepper : if they are desired at an early season, sow them on a 

 slight hot-bed the beginning of this month, and with due care they 

 will be fit to transplant, where they are to remain, towards the middle 

 of May. In the eastern States, the tenth of May will be soon enough 

 to sow them in the open ground, but in the southern States they may 

 be sown any time this month. 



TOMATOES, OR LOVE APPLES. 



The Solanum lycopersicum, tomato, or love apple, is much culti- 

 vated for its fruit, in soups and sauces, to which it imparts an agree- 

 able acid flavor; and is also stewed and dressed in various ways and 

 very much admired. 



The seeds, may, towards the latter end of this month, be sown on 

 a warm border, pretty thick, and about the end of May will be fit to 

 plant out ; or they may be sown where intended to remain for fruit- 

 ing. They will require such support as directed for nasturtiums, on 

 page 341, and must be planted in rows five feet asunder, and a foot 

 or fourteen inches distant, plant from plant, as they run greatly. 

 Some lay various kinds of old branches in their way for them to run 

 upon ; however, the better they are supported, the more numerous 

 will their fruit be. 



This fruit may be had much earlier by sowing the seeds in the 

 first week of this month, if not done in March, on a slight hot-bed, 

 and forwarding them in that way; they bear transplanting well, and 

 may be set out finally about the middle of May. 



EGG-PLANT. 



The Solanum melongena, or egg-plant. There are two varieties 

 of this plant, the white fruited and the purple, cultivated for culinary 

 purposes ; the latter kind is preferable, and when sliced and nicely 

 fried, approaches, both in taste and flavor, nearer to that of a very 

 nice fried oyster than perhaps any other plant. 



This delicious vegetable may be propagated by sowing the seed on 

 a slight hot-bed the beginning of this month, or in March ; and 

 towards the middle or latter part of May, they should be planted in 

 a rich warm piece of ground, at the distance of two feet and a half 

 asunder every way for the purple, or two feet for the white kind ; 

 and if kept clean, and a little earth drawn up to their stems, when 

 about a foot high, they will produce plenty of fruit. Or, the seed 

 may be sown about the end of this month on a warm border, and 

 planted out finally in the beginning of June; but these will be rather 

 late, and not produce fruit so abundantly in the middle or eastern 



