The Canadian Horticulturist. 



251 



NOTES ON EGG PLANTS. 



HE eggplant is one of the important vegetables, which has as 

 yet received little attention in this State, and the poor 

 whithered specimens sent in from other States give con- 

 sumers little idea of the delicious character of this plant 

 when fresh and well served. No doubt also, the fact that 

 it is not. common, and that cooks are not accustomed to 

 serving it, may account to a large extent for its neglect. 



The egg plant is a native of tropical America, and reaches perfection only 

 in a warm climate and near the coast. By careful treatment, however, and by a 

 process of acclimatization, it may be successfully grown far inland and much 

 farther north than commonly attempted, as the successful plantings in the 

 college gardens for the past two years abundantly prove. 



The following notes embrace the more important results of our experiences 

 with this plant during the past five years : 



1. Culture. — As a long season is required for the egg plant to mature, it is 

 highly important that the plants be started early. It is our practise to sow the 

 seeds in "flats ", — shallow boxes about three inches deep — in a warm forcing house 

 about the middle of March or the first of April. After about a month, or when 

 the first true leaves are nicely started, the young plants are pricked off into other 

 boxes, two inches apart each way, or better, into two-inch pots. About three 

 weeks later, when the pots are well filled with roots, or when the plants begin to 

 crowd, the latter should be shifted to four-inch pots. We have almost invariably 

 had better success when the plants were handled in pots than when they were 

 transplanted into other flats, the check caused by frequent disturbance of the 

 roots appearing to be detrimental to most sorts. An exception is noted, how- 

 ever, incase of the Early Dwarf Purple which- seems able to withstand very harsh 

 treatment. It is important that the plants be kept growing vigorously from the 

 start, as they seldom fully recover from a check, and in order that fruit mature 

 the plants must be strong and vigorous when planted in the field. 



The plants may be set in the field, in this latitude, about June 10th to 

 15th. We usually set them in rows about three feet apart that they may be 

 cultivated by horse power. The soil should be a rich sandy loam containing an 

 abundance of organic matter. Heavy dressings of stable manure are advisable. 

 Frequent and thorough cultivation are absolutely essential to success. 



Perhaps the worst insect enemy of the egg plant is the potato beetle. The 

 tender foliage of the young, plants is especially subject to attack, and as the 

 growth is so slow, severe injury nearly always proves fatal. Paris green, one pound 

 to one hundred gallons of water (about one-half teaspoonful to a large pailful of 

 water), applied about once a week, will be found useful. 



