52 THE SEED-GROWER. 
mal equilibrium, the former lower prices are likely to 
prevail again. 
EGGPLANT. 
This vegetable delights in a light, warm, rich soil. 
About one month after fruit is in edible condition is 
required for seed to ripen. It is therefore necessary 
that a crop for seed should be started as soon as pos- 
sible. In the Middle and Western States this is begun 
about March 10th, by sowing seed in a hotbed. When 
the second leaves have formed, the young plants are 
transferred to another or larger hotbed, where with 
fresh heat they should become large, strong plants 
about the 20th of May, when they may be set out in 
the open ground. Cultivation should be thorough and 
weeds kept down. 
Eggplant should not be attempted oftener than once 
in the same field, neither should it be grown in a field 
in which tomato was raised the year before, otherwise a 
poor crop will be the result; tomato seems to extract 
from the soil what is needful for eggplant. 
Ripening of seed is indicated by changing of color of 
the egg from a bright to a duller shade, or even some- 
what yellow, also by the appearance of specks. A crop 
is harvested early in October, only the finest-looking 
eggs being selected. After gathering, the stem end 
is cut away for several inches, seed being contained in 
the other end and fruit is then left in a pile for several 
days until a sufficient number has been gathered to 
extract seed. Fruit should not be allowed to become 
rotten as this will injure the seed. 
Extracting Seed.—On a small scale, the eggs are 
first pared and then cut into small pieces, say eighths; 
to do which a dull knife is used to ayoid cutting seed. 
