BEHAVIOR OF EGGPLANTS. 22Q 



rapid growth. In July, when the plants grown under 

 glass were compared with those planted in the open 

 ground, an astonishing difference could be observed. 

 Those set in the house were fully twice as large as the 

 others ; the leaves were larger and the stems thicker 

 than those generally found in the gardens of this lati- 

 tude, and the abundance of healthy foliage was ample 

 proof that the plants were subjected to conditions ex- 

 tremely favorable to their growth. 



Another interesting point was soon noticed. Al- 

 though the plants were blossoming very freely, still 

 comparatively little fruit had set, and it appeared as if 

 the entire energies of the plants had been directed to- 

 wards the production of foliage at the expense of the 

 fruit. This condition may perhaps be ascribed to two 

 causes. Extreme activity of the vegetative functions of 

 plants is frequently carried on at the expense of fruit 

 production ; this fact is commonly illustrated by young 

 fruit trees which blossom sometimes several years be- 

 fore they set fruit. The growth of the eggplant men- 

 tioned above was sufficiently luxuriant to suggest the 

 possibility of its having some effect upon the fruiting 

 powers of the plants. The second and perhaps most 

 probable cause of this unsatisfactory fruiting may have 

 been imperfect pollination. Insects, and especially bees, 

 were not working so freely in the house as outside, and 

 later experience has shown very clearly that in order to 

 get a satisfactory crop from eggplants grown under glass 

 thorough pollination must be practiced. The foliage was 

 so dense that the flowers were for the most part hidden. 

 In such a position they were necessarily surrounded by 

 a comparatively damp atmosphere, especially when 

 borne upon branches that were near the surface of the 

 ground, and this would still further tend to interfere with 

 the free transfer of pollen by any natural agencies. Un- 

 der such conditions a profitable yield could scarcely be 

 expected ; yet when carefully observed, the plants 



