338 GAKDExXIXG FOR THE SOUTH. 



Improved New York Purple. — This is one of the best 

 varieties, and is usually the kind planted. It has a large 

 fruit of an oval shape and deep purple. 



Black Pekin. — The fruit is purplish-black, smaller 

 than the preceding; solid, smooth. It is prolific and tine 

 flavored. 



Culture. — Eggplants require a light, loamy, rich soil, 

 to bring their fruit early to perfection. They like the soil 

 manured with half-decayed leaves, well dug in. To have 

 them early, sow in a hot-bed, or in a cold frame under 

 glass, the latter part of February, or early in March. The 

 rows may be six or eight inches apart, made shallow and 

 the earth pressed upon the seed. Keep the sash carefully 

 closed until the plants are up, and then give air in warm 

 days. They succeed best with a small frame to them- 

 selves, as they like a higher heat than is desirable for 

 other plants. As very few plants are required, they may 

 be planted in a small box without bottom, placed on the 

 ordinary hot-bed and covered with a square of glass. 

 Prick them out, when two inches high, into small pots, 

 and afterwards transfer them to larger ones, as directed 

 for the tomato. They can thus be planted out with the 

 ball of earth entire. Do not put them out until settled 

 warm weather, for if the plants get chilled while young 

 their growth is so checked that they may never fully re- 

 cover. 



The plants, when young, are often destroyed in a clay 

 or two by a minute flea. Keep them closely covered until 

 well out of the seed-leaf, and, if attacked, sprinkle them 

 with a solution of aloes or quassia, and dust them with 

 lime and sulphur. 



It is hardly worth while to sow the seed in the open 

 ground, as they would be so late in coming into use. 

 Prepare the final bed for eggplants by making trenches 

 three feet apart, burying in them old cabbage stumps, 



