204 GARDENING FOE PROFIT. 



tion this season, and that it has been a wonder to the 

 good people of that place, and they wish for more light 

 on its culture and uses. This gentleman says that the 

 earliest and best fruit is produced on the plants last set 

 out (June 10th), and seems to wonder that such should 

 be the case. 



His experience here teaches a forcible lesson on tho 

 subject that we so often dwell upon, cautioning against 

 the sowing or planting of tender kinds, such as Tomato, 

 Egg Plant, Cucumber or Melon, too early. In the lati- 

 tude of New York, Egg Plants should never be sown in 

 hot-beds sooner than April 20th, the temperature of the 

 hot-bed to be not less than seventy degrees at night. 

 The plant at no season of its growth should be kept for 

 any length of time at a lower average temperature than 

 seventy degrees. 



The experiment of my correspondent demonstrated 

 that his plants,. planted in open air on May 19th, were 

 inferior to those set out on June 10th. Egg Plants, 

 when they first germinate, are very sensitive to damp and 

 to being chilled, and the amateur often fails to raise 

 them, even with his hot-bed. But as they are now grown 

 in all large towns, those wishing to try them, and not 

 having the proper means of raising the plants, can pro- 

 cure them at trifling expense from the market gardeners 

 or florists of their nearest town. The soil in which they 

 fruit best is a light, sandy loam, well enriched by decayed 

 stable manure. 



The Egg Fruit is fit for use from the time it is the 

 size of a turkey's egg until it is full grown, say five 

 inches in diameter ; but it is not so good when the seeds 

 become hard, and indicate an appearance of ripening. 



The soil in which Egg Plants are to be grown can 

 hardly be too rich, for it is a plant that will generally 

 repay good treatment. They are planted from two to 

 three feet apart, according to the degree of richness of 



