TOMATOES AND EGGPLANTS 205 



climate, the plants are started under glass. Six 

 or eight inches of thrifty stocky growth will make 

 them ready for the open garden. It is an advan- 

 tage to handle the plants twice in pots before 

 finally setting them where they are to mature. 

 This lessens the danger of checking the growth. 

 Find a warm sunny strip of soil, not so moist as 

 ground suited to the early peas. Make it rich 

 and fit the same as for the tomato, putting extra 

 heat-producing fertilizer below the plants. 

 Growth must proceed immediately after trans- 

 planting and continue unchecked until the fruit 

 is ready to be gathered. Care must be given to 

 cultivation. 



Sometimes the insects that trouble the tomatoes 

 will attack the eggplants, but usually the growth 

 will be healthy. Keep the surface well tilled; 

 use tobacco dust against the flea-beetles, and soon 

 the blossoms begin to show. As the fruits develop, 

 staking will help to keep them upright. When 

 the eggs are only a third grown, tf inches or even 

 less, they are ready for frying. From then until 

 they are beginning to ripen, these southern vege- 

 tables furnish an appetizing variety for the table. 



The little garden book is ended. I hope it con- 

 tains good advice; certainly the statements are 

 born of experience. I trust, also, that it will 

 encourage sentiment for real gardens, and that 

 it will recall many memories. 



A flash of memory brings a glimpse of the home 



