AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION. 



47 



Fig. 9. Egg Fruit, not PvUinated. 



It is inlerestiDg in this connection to note the fact that these 

 fruits have usually, though not invariably, developed on cross- 

 bred plants, rather than on fixed varieties, — a fact apparently in 

 accord with the supposition before expressed, that excessive vigor 

 of the plant is a prime requisite for the appearance of the phe- 

 nomenon, for I have observed that as a rule, the cross-bred plants 

 are apparently stronger and more productive than the others. 



A further indication that excessive vigor of grovpth may affect 

 the fruit, is in the abnormal development of the calyx of the egg 

 plant in many instances, while the growth of the ovary is ar- 

 rested. Usually the most prominent indication that impregnation 

 has taken place, in the egg plant, is the rapid growth of the 

 calyx. Many times, however, the calyx becomes much enlarged 

 while for some reason the ovary fails to develop. I have fre- 

 quently seen examples of this, in which the calyx was fully six 

 inches long. 



