EGG-PLANT 



291 



growing nor so large, being of more slender habit. Stem almost 



black ; leaves oval, entire, with hardly any spines, and with the 



stalk and veins very deeply 



tinged with purple on the 



upper surface. The general 



tint of the leaves is grayer 



than that of the leaves of 



the preceding kind, and the 



fruit is smaller and more 



slender. This variety, on 



account of its earliness, is 



the most suitable for culture 



in the climate of Paris. 

 Barbentane Very Early 



Long Purple Egg-plant. 



Stem black ; leaves oval, 



generally lobed, of a gray 



dark green colour, with 



black stalks ; veins much 



tinged, specially on the 



upper surface, and bearing 



a few spines on the lower 



side ; flowers large, purple, 



with brown calyx. The 



fruit measures 7 to 8 in. 



in length, and about 2 in. 



in diameter at the thickest part ; it is almost cylindrical and 



slightly pointed, and very dark, almost black. Each plant bears 



eight or ten fruit, which ripen well even in mild climates. It is 



very early and is the most productive Egg-plant grown in the 



climate of Paris. 



Early Dwarf Purple 

 Egg-plant. A very 

 early variety, and there- 

 fore very valuable for 

 our climate. Plant low- 

 growing and branching, 

 with a black stem and 

 dark violet-coloured 

 flowers. Leaves of a 

 slightly gray-green 

 colour, elongated, and 

 faintly waved at the 

 edges ; veins black on 



Barbentane Very Early Egg-plant. 



Early Dwarf Purple Egg-plant. 



the upper surface ; leaf-stalk dark violet, as are also the divisions 

 of the calyx. Fruit ovoid, 3 or 4 in. long and about 2 in. in 



