APRIL,] THE KITCHEN-GARDEX. 319 



them up, two or three times, as you do peas, and they will produce 

 abundantly. Some plant or sow them much thinner, in the rows ; 

 but by the above method, you will have, more in quantity, and as 

 good in quality. 



Capsicums or Red-Peppers. 



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

 der, 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 sea- 

 son, sow them on a slight hot-hed, the beginning of this month, and 

 with due care they will be fit to transplant, where they are to re- 

 main, 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. 



Tomato's or Love-apples. 



The Solanum Lycopcrsicum^ Tomato, or Love-apple, is much cul- 

 tivated for its fruit, in soups and sauces, to which it imparts an 

 agreeable acid flavour ; 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 

 fruiting. They will require such support as directed for Nastur- 

 tiums, in page 3 18, and must be planted in rows, five feet asundtr, 

 and a foot or fourteen inches distant, plant from plant, as they run 

 greatly. Some lay various lands 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-Plane. 



The Solanum Melongena^ or Egg-plant. There are two varieties 

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

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

 fried, approaches, both in taste and flavour, 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, 



