AUBERGINE OR EGG PLANT 143 



in drills eighteen inches apart with half that distance 

 in the row. To obtain large plants sow early in good 

 loamy soil, but in poor or in very light land the plants 

 run to seed when sowing takes place too soon. If 

 newly manured land is used for this crop the roots 

 fork badly and do not become straight, thick and 

 fleshy. It is not well to lift the roots too early, in- 

 deed, if the plants are covered where they are with a 

 little litter they will take no harm. Roots so wintered 

 are of much better flavour than those in a store, as, 

 if shrivelled, they lose their good qualities. Scorzonera 

 needs just the same culture ; it is of a different colour 

 and shape to Salsify but it needs deeper land, and the 

 roots are small if not given good culture. Sow the 

 seed early in May in an open position, in land as advised 

 for Salsify, and at the same distance apart. The plants 

 during growth give little trouble and succeed well in 

 a good light soil, and may be served in the same way 

 as Salsify. If only one of these vegetables is grown 

 choose Salsify. The plants remain good from October 

 until March, or later, but after that they begin to flower 

 and get tough and juiceless. The best Salsify is the 

 Mammoth or Giant, which is much superior to the 

 older common form, and the large Russian is the best 

 of the Scorzoneras. Salsify is sometimes spelt Salsafy. 



AUBERGINE OR EGG PLANT. 



Although the Egg Plant is regarded almost as a 

 curiosity, it is well worth frame or pit culture as a 



