250 MANAGEMENT OF THE VARIOUS CROPS. 



transplanted two or three times before going into perma- 

 nent quarters. The temperature, soil and general treat- 

 ment should be essentially the same as for tomatoes. 

 They must have bottom heat and full sunlight (pages 230, 



235). 



Eggplants should stand about 2 feet apart each way if 

 the coarse-growing varieties are grown, and 20 inches if 

 the Early Dwarf Purple is grown (pages 230, 235). 



Fruits will set without hand-pollination (Fig. 82), but 

 they will not grow to marketable size. Instructions for 

 pollination are given on pages 236 and 237. 



Early Dwarf Purple is the earliest and most productive 

 variety for forcing, but the fruits are small. Our second 

 choice is New York Improved (pages 232 to 235). 



Eggplant is loved of the green-fly, mealy-bug, red 

 spider, and mite. The spider and mite are its most 

 ardent admirers, and they must be freely baptized if it is 

 desired to keep them off (page 237). 



LETTUCE. 



There are two general kinds or types of forcing let- 

 tuce, that which forms more or less solid heads (Fig. 34), 

 and that which remains open and leafy (Figs. 32, 33). 

 The former is more prized in New England and other 

 eastern markets. It is more difficult to grow to perfec- 

 tion than the leafy type is, and is particularly subject to 

 influence by the soil. 



Lettuce demands a night temperature of about 45, and 

 never higher than 50, and a day temperature of about 

 55 to 65 (page 94). 



Solid or ground beds are most satisfactory for the 

 growing of lettuce. Upon benches, more care is required 

 in growing the crop, and the difficulties are aggravated if 

 the bench has bottom heat (page 94). 



Good lettuce may also be grown in pots, and thereby 

 be marketed with a good ball of earth attached. This 



