EGG-PLANT. 67 



may be given in the heat of the day.* Toward the middle 

 of May, if the weather be warm and settled, the plants 

 should be set out from twenty-four to thirty inches apart, in 

 a rich, warm piece of ground; and if kept clean, and a little 

 earth be drawn up to their stems when about a foot high, 

 they will produce plenty of fruit. 



Plants of the white variety may be riased in the same man 

 ner, and n'ansplanted into pots in May; or if some of the 

 seed be sown in a warm situation the first week in May, these 

 may come to perfection in the course of the summer. This 

 variety, though generally cultivated for ornament, is good 

 when cooked. 



As Egg plants will not grow in the open ground until set- 

 tled warm weather, and are apt to perish from being trans- 

 planted too early, the gardener should be provided with small 

 pots, in order that the plants may be transplanted therein 

 early in May, and placed in a frame, there to remain until 

 the first week in June, at which time, if they are turned out 

 and planted, with the balls of earth entire, they will soon take 

 root and grow freely. 



Select the fruit when at maturity; cut it into slices, and 

 parboil it in a stewpan ; when softened, drain off the water ; 

 it may then be fried in batter made with wheaten flour and 

 an egg, or in fresh butter with bread grated fine and sea- 

 soned before it is put in the pan, with pepper, salt, thyme, 

 and such other herbs as may best suit the palate. Some use 

 Marjoram, Summer Savory, Parsley, Onion, &c. 



* Esg-plant seed will not vegetate freely without substantial heat ; but with 

 proper management, upward of four thousand plants may be raised from 

 an ounce of seed. If these plants get the least chilled in the earlier stages 

 of growth, they seldom recover ; it is, thei-efore, important that the frame 

 allotted for them be placed over a well-regulated hot-bed, and partitioned 

 otT, so that the sash can be kept down over the plants in cool weather. 



Some gardeners raise Egg-plants in the same frame with Cabbage, and 

 such other half-hardy plants as require air every mild day ; by such man- 

 agement, one or the other must suffer for want of suitable aliment, heat 

 being the principal food of tender plants, and air that of the more hardy 

 gpecies 



