TOMATO. EGGPLANT. PEPPER 139 



tomato in paper, store in a cool cellar, and keep for 

 later ripening in the sun. 



Insects and diseases : The large green tomato 

 worm is the principal insect pest. Spray young plants 

 with arsenate of lead; hand-pick the worms on 

 fruiting vines. Rot and blight are the chief diseases. 

 Practise rotation of crops ; burn all diseased fruit 

 and dead vines ; keep the vines off the ground ; spray 

 with the Bordeaux mixture, beginning early and con- 

 tinuing at intervals until a few weeks before picking 

 time. 



EGGPLANT. The plants are grown under glass 

 the same as tomatoes, except that they require more 

 heat and care in the hotbed, and need not be started 

 quite so early. March ist is soon enough, in the 

 North. One hotbed transplanting is sufficient if you 

 space the plants well apart. To reach maturity, a 

 long, warm season is required; therefore commercial 

 success with this crop can not be expected too far 

 north. Choose a rich, loose, loamy soil ; clay is not 

 so suitable ; neither is too wet a soil. New York Im- 

 proved, Black Beauty and Black Pekin are the best 

 varieties where the season is long enough ; in ex- 

 treme northern localities the Early Dwarf Purple 

 would be more apt to mature its fruit. Plants may 

 be set 2^ x 2 l / 2 feet outdoors about June ist in the 

 North ; this is for hoe cultivation. For horse work 

 in a large field, 3x3 feet would be better. 



Marketing eggplant : The fruit is usually cut 

 from the stem when nearly full-grown and fully- 

 colored. An over-ripe fruit changes from a bright 

 to a dull purple, and the seeds inside begin to swell; 

 it is then worthless for market or table use. Gath- 

 ering the fruits before they quite reach full size 

 increases the crop. A marketable eggplant should be 



