EGG-PLANT 



293 



with purple. Leaves entire, undulated at the edges, or faintly 

 lobed, and bearing short spines on the ribs on both sides. Flowers 

 pale lilac, rather large. Fruit very large, of a very short Pear- 

 shape, and slightly flattened at both ends ; it is paler in colour than 

 that of the Round Purple Egg-plant, but is larger and fuller and 

 entirely devoid of ribs or longitudinal furrows. The fruit-stalk, 

 and also the persistent calyx, usually remain green up to the time 

 of ripening. This variety is distinguished from those already 

 enumerated by its lower stature, its more compact and thick-set 

 habit, and especially by the quality of the flesh, which almost 

 entirely fills the interior of the fruit, leaving but very little space 

 for the seeds. A plant 

 seldom carries more than 

 two fruit. The Common 

 Giant Egg-plant is to be 

 referred to this variety, 

 which is steadily super- 

 seding it in cultivation. 

 There is a variety of this 

 with cream-white fruit 

 which is much appreci- 

 ated in the United States, 

 where it is known as the 

 Pearl-white Egg-plant. 



Black Pekin Egg- 

 plant. A strong-growing 

 plant, almost entirely of 

 a black-purple colour. 

 Fruit nearly or quite 

 spherical, 5 or 6 in. in 

 diameter, glistening, and 



exhibiting this peculiarity 

 that those parts of it 

 which are protected from 

 covered with the divisions 



Black Pekin Egg-plant. 



of the sun by 



the action of the sun by being 

 of the calyx remain quite green. 

 This variety is not of much account for the climate of Paris, 

 as it is late, and the fruit has a very decided acridity in its 

 flavour. 



Madras Egg-plant. Its culture is exactly like that of the 

 other Egg-plants. Its chief use, however, is as an ornamental 

 plant. The fruit is numerous, oblong, pear-shaped, varying in 

 colour on the same plant between purple, yellow, green, and also 

 striped white and yellow. It is eaten as a vegetable in India, but 

 for table purposes it cannot be compared with the improved 

 varieties as known to us. Here it can only be useful for its 

 ornamental qualities. 



