330 GARDENING FOR PLEASURE. 



EGG PLANT (Solatium Melongena). 



This is always an interesting vegetable to cultivate, 

 being worthy of a place as an ornamental plant, as well 

 as being much prized for culinary use. It is a native of 

 the tropics, and peculiarly tender. We find the seeds 

 will not germinate freely below a temperature of seventy 

 degrees ; and even then often tardily, unless the condi- 

 tions are just right. Nothing suits them so well as a 

 warm hot-bed ; and to get plants of the proper size to be 

 set in the open ground by the end of May, the seeds 

 should be sown early in March, and the plants potted 

 into small pots when an inch or so in hight. But as 

 only a dozen or two plants are needed for a family, when- 

 ever the plants can be purchased conveniently, it is never 

 worth the trouble to attempt the raising of them from 

 seeds, unless, indeed, there is room in a hot-bed, or a 

 hot-house used for other purposes. Do not plant out 

 sooner, in this latitude, than the 25th of May, unless 

 they can be protected by hand-glasses. Set at distances 

 of four feet apart, preparing the hills as described for 

 Lima Beans. Each plant should average a dozen fruits, 

 which will weigh from ten to forty ounces each. The best 

 flavored variety, in our opinion, is the Black Pekin, but 

 the most prolific is the New York Market. A pure 

 pearly white variety is highly ornamental, and also of 

 excellent flavor. There is also a beautiful scarlet variety, 

 sometimes grown as a greenhouse ornament. The Egg 

 Plant is usually fried in slices ; but there are other 

 methods to be found in the proper authorities on such 

 matters. 



ENDIVE (CicJwrium Endivia). 



A plant related to the Lettuce. If sown in early spring, 

 either in a hot-bed or in the open ground in April, it 

 will be ready in May. Set out at distances of fifteen 



