EGG-PLANT. 99 



drained, and spread thinly on shutters. Egg-plant seed is 

 very liable to sprout after washing unless quickly dried ; 

 hence it is very important to select a dry day for the opera- 

 tion, and to commence early in the morning, so as to get the 

 seed out before noon, between which time and night, if 

 spread thin, exposed to the sun, and frequently stirred, it 

 will be fit to put on cloths, and be removed to a loft, where 

 it may be left spread thin until thoroughly dry. It may af- 

 terwards be cleaned by passing through the wind, or large 

 lots through the fan-mill, and the sand removed by sieve 

 No. 12. The seed, when well kept, retains its vitality 

 five years. 



Varieties. The varieties are not numerous, and the 

 older sorts are known as " Long Purple " and " Round 

 Purple," differing mainly in the shape of the fruit. 



The general favorite at the present time is the 



New York Improved Large Purple, This is an im- 

 provement on the "Round Purple" made by carefully se- 

 lecting the fruit for a succession of years. It was grown 

 by my father while gardening at Jersey City. He annu- 

 ally took the first premium at the American Institute 

 Fairs, which fact excited the attention of a New York seeds- 

 man, who contracted with him for an annual supply of 

 seed, and gave it the name it still bears. 



Plant upright and compact ; fruit, when marketable, 

 six to nine inches in length, and four to six inches in di- 

 ameter, thinnest at the stem, sometimes indented or 

 grooved on one side ; color bright velvety purple, chang- 

 ing to dull purple and yellow when ripe, at which stage it 

 frequently attains a size of twelve inches in length and 

 eight inches in diameter ; stems quite thickly covered 

 with thorns on many of the plants. 



Black Pekin. A very distinct variety, quite recently 

 introduced. Plant large and branching, with purple stalks ; 

 the leaves green, distinctly marked with purple and 



