156 GARDEN PLANTS. TART II. 



in form like an egg ; and the other with fruits more of the 

 form of a Cucumber. The fruits of both kinds are of a fine, 

 polished, deep-purple colour. 



I was informed by the late General F. Jenkins that at Patna 

 there are as many as five varieties of this vegetable, thus named 

 and distinguished : 



1. Mdnik: three to five to the seer; globular, black. 



2. Gorbhanta: smaller. 



3. Sara Mdsiya : cylindrical, black. 



4. Valayeti: oblong, almost cylindrical, white. 



5. Bhdtin : many prickles ; fruit cylindrical. 



The seeds are sown at the beginning of the Eains, and the 

 plants are put out at the distance of a foot and a half apart ; 

 though, like all other vegetables, benefited by a rich soil, 

 the Brinjal succeeds ordinarily as well as could be desired in 

 common garden earth. 



The vegetable comes into season in August, and remains in 

 season from that time to the end of the Cold weather. It is 

 valuable for the table during the first two or three months, 

 when few vegetables of any kind are attainable. 



Solanum lycopersicum. 



TOMATO LOVE-APPLE. 



Bilaetee Begoon. 



In the catalogues of the English seedsmen there are given 

 several varieties of this vegetable. In one I find as many as 

 twenty set down. But except as a matter of curiosity, or merely 

 for ornament, no more than one or two kinds can possibly be 

 required. The fruit of the old kind, commonly cultivated, was 

 apt to become disfigured by ribs and creases, so much so indeed 

 as not unfrequently to split off into portions. The " New 

 scarlet Pear-shaped " is said to be free from this defect, and a 

 very handsome fruit. " Trophy " is spoken of as being the largest. 

 But the most recent, " Hatha way's Excelsior," is thus described 

 by a writer in the ' Journal of Horticulture ' : 



" This is a strong grower and very prolific. The fait is larger, 

 heavy, and handsome, being nearly as round as a cricket-ball, not 

 a rib upon it, and ripening well up to the stem. The skin is thin, 

 smooth, and shining, and the flesh moderately firm. It is a most 



