94 FAKM-GAKDENING AND SEED-GROWING. 







growers in good soil; very productive ; a free seeder. A 

 valuable variety for pickles. 



Early While -Spine, The general favorite about New 

 York for marketing. Fruit glossy green, growing lighter 

 by age, and when ripe nearly or quite white ; prickles 

 white, distinct from most other varieties, eight to ten 

 inches in length, rather thin in comparison with the 

 cluster, and tapering at the stem-end ; plants remarkably 

 free growers, and very productive ; a moderate seeder. 



London Long Green. Fruit dark green ; when ripe 

 brownish yellow, about twelve inches in length, tapering 

 at the stem; plants not very free growers, not productive, 

 and a shy seeder. 



EGG-PLANT. 



A native of a tropical climate, extremely sensitive to 

 cold, and consequently quite difficult to grow. The fruit 

 can be readily shipped, but requires careful handling, as 

 the skin is quite easily disfigured, and the appearance is 

 much damaged when bruised. On account of the atten- 

 tion required in the early stages, they are not extensively 

 cultivated. The demand for them is steadily increasing, 

 and where the climate suits they may be profitably grown. 

 They succeed best during very hot, dry weather ; and 

 when it happens there is much rain about the time of 

 blossoming, but few fruit will set. 



Sowing Seed and Growing the Plants. The seed 

 should be sown in a hot-bed, and requires more heat than 

 any other to germinate it. 



If sown the first of April, the plants may be sufficiently 

 forwarded to give a crop for market, but as I have always 

 grown them for seed purposes specially, and the fruit 

 requiring at least one month after it is eatable to per- 

 fect the seed, I find it necessary to sow by the first of 

 March. It is true we have much extra labor in guarding 



