98 THE PRACTICAL GARDEN -BOOK 



inches. The name Echeveria is now given up by bota- 

 nists for Cotyledon. 



Egg-plant. GUINEA SQUASH. Unless one has 



a greenhouse or a very warm hotbed, the growing of Egg- 

 plants in the North should be left to the professional gar- 

 dener, as the young plants are very tender, and should be 

 grown without a check. The seed should be sown in the 

 hotbed or greenhouse about April 10, keeping a temperature 

 of from 65 to 70. When the seedlings have made three 

 rough leaves, they may be pricked out into shallow boxes, 

 or, still better, into 3-inch pots. The pots or boxes should 

 be plunged to the rim in soil in a hotbed or coldframe so 

 situated that protection may be given on chilly nights. The 

 10th of June is early enough to plant them out in central 

 New York. The soil in which they are to grow cannot well 

 be made too rich, as they have only a short season in which 

 to develop their fruits. The plants are usually set 3 feet 

 apart each way. A dozen plants are sufficient 

 for the needs of a large family, as each plant 

 should yield from two to six large fruits. The 

 fruits are fit to eat at all stages of growth, from 

 those the size of a large egg to their largest 

 development. One ounce of seed will furnish 

 600 to 800 plants. 



The New York Improved Purple is the stan- 



ITew York Purple Egg-plant dard variety> Black p ekin ig good< For ear ] y> 



or for a short-season climate, the Early Dwarf Purple is 

 excellent. 



Endive. As a fall salad vegetable, this should 



be better known, it being far superior to lettuce at that 

 time and as easily grown. For fall use, the seed may be 

 sown from June to August, and as the plants become fit to 

 eat about the same time from sowing as lettuce does, a suc- 

 cession may be had until cold weather. The plants will 

 need protection from the severe fall frosts, and this may be 

 given by carefully lifting the plants and transplanting to a 



