52 THE SEED-GROWER. 



mal equilibrium, the former lower prices are likely to 

 prevail again. 



EGGPLANT. 



This vegetable delights in a light, warm, rich soil. 

 About one month after fruit is in edible condition is 

 required for seed to ripen. It is therefore necessary 

 that a crop for seed should be started as soon as pos- 

 sible. In the Middle and Western States this is begun 

 about March 10th, by sowing seed in a hotbed. When 

 the second leaves have formed, the young plants are 

 transferred to another or larger hotbed, where with 

 fresh heat they should become large, strong plants 

 about the 20th of May, when they may be set out in 

 the open ground. Cultivation should be thorough and 

 weeds kept down. 



Eggplant should not be attempted oftener than once 

 in the same field, neither should it be grown in a field 

 in which tomato was raised the year before, otherwise a 

 poor crop will be the result; tomato seems to extract 

 from the soil what is needful for eggplant. 



Ripening of seed is indicated by changing of color of 

 the egg from a bright to a duller shade, or even some- 

 what yellow, also by the appearance of specks. A crop 

 is harvested early in October, only the finest-looking 

 eggs being selected. After gathering, the stem end 

 is cut away for several inches, seed being contained in 

 the other end and fruit is then left in a pile for several 

 days until a sufficient number has been gathered to 

 extract seed. Fruit should not be allowed to become 

 rotten as this will injure the seed. 



Extracting Seed. On a small scale, the eggs are 

 first pared and then cut into small pieces, say eighths; 

 to do which a dull knife is used, to avoid. cutting seed. 



