EGG-PLANT. 97 



The after-cultivation consists only in keeping the 

 ground free from weeds, which is readily done by the 

 cultivator and hoe. 



Cutting for Market. The fruit is marketable when 

 about half-grown, usually six to eight inches long, and 

 five to six inches in diameter at the thickest part. This, 

 however, can only be determined by some experience with 

 them. They are not eatable when the seeds begin to 

 swell, which may be known by the color of the fruit 

 changing from bright to dull purple. 



On account of the thorns on the stems of some, they 

 are most easily cut with a strong pair of shears. 



They should not be washed, but may be wiped off and 

 carefully laid in barrels for shipping. 



Seed. To keep up and improve the variety, such as 

 are wanted for stock seed should be selected when 

 growing, and marked by crossing with a knife. For this 

 purpose select the earliest, best formed, and particularly 

 the deepest colored, and as far as possible from produc- 

 tive plants. Some may prefer to select those without 

 thorns on the stem, as these are pleasanter to handle, 

 but I have found the thorny-stemmed ones the most pro- 

 ductive, and the fruit is more handsome than that from 

 the smooth-stemmed. 



The latter are, however, a little earlier than the former, 

 so that one thing balances the other, and it is quite as 

 well to grow them promiscuously. When the fruit is ripe, 

 which may be known by the change from bright purple 

 to dull purple, and sometimes to a deep yellow, those 

 marked for stock must first be gathered, and it is recom- 

 mended in selecting from the marked fruit to take only such 

 as have held their color well toward maturity. It is ad- 

 visable to make two or three gatherings of the main crop, 

 as the first ripe are liable to rot before the later ones are 

 fit for seed. At the first frost all that are marketable may 

 be cut and sold, as they will not ripen the seed. Cut 

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