EGGPLANT 251 



fields. It is also important to avoid inoculating a new field by 

 means of soil carried from an infected field on tools or the feet of 

 workmen or farm animals. 



EGGPLANT 



The eggplant is an exacting crop, demanding careful attention 

 to all details if satisfactory results are to be secured. The plants 

 must be kept healthy and growing vigorously all the time. A check 

 in growth at any time during their life is seldom fully overcome, 

 and may result in the complete failure of the crop. The essential 

 requirements of eggplant culture are high temperature, rich soil, 

 thorough tillage, and protection from insects (Figs. 154 and 155). 



Since the outdoor conditions in central latitudes are too cold for 

 eggplants until about the first of June, the plants must be started 

 under glass; and since the plants must be well grown at the time of 

 transplanting, the seed should be sown about the middle of March. 



Growing the Plants. — If a greenhouse is available, that is the 

 best place in which to grow the plants; otherwise, a hotbed will 

 do. In either case, the temperature should be about 80° to 85° F. 

 during the day and 65° to 70° at night. As soon as the plants 

 are large enough to handle, which will be from three to four weeks 

 after the seed is sown, they should be removed from the seed-bed 

 and potted off into two-and-one-half-inch pots, and replaced in 

 the hotbed or greenhouse. Very rich soil should be used in the 

 pots. As soon as the roots fill these pots, the plants should be 

 shifted to four-inch pots. If the roots fill these pots before the 

 weather is warm enough to warrant transplanting into the field, 

 the plants should be shifted again, this time to six-inch pots. The 

 plants must be afforded the protection of the hotbed or green- 

 house until the weather becomes warm and settled, even if it be 

 until the middle of June; and during this time they must not be 

 allowed to become pot-bound, for that would check their growth. 



Transplanting. — When conditions are favorable for transplant- 

 ing to the field, the plants should be slipped from the pots without 

 disturbing the roots, and carefully planted in rich, thoroughly 

 prepared soil that has been kept moist by repeated harrowing 

 following early plowing. The rows should be placed four feet apart 

 and the plants two to three feet apart in the row. 



Cultural Requirements. — Eggplants thrive best in hot weather, 

 and although they need considerable moisture immediately fol- 

 lowing transplanting, after they have once become well established 



