28 HINTS AND HELPS 



used in the early spring, they should be kept mowed to 

 prevent their going to seed as they may become a trouble- 

 some weed. They are used not only for greens, but also 

 blanched and used for a salad. The seeds should be 

 lightly covered and the plants kept in a good state of til- 

 lage. It is not a plant to grow in the School Garden. 



Egg Plant. Egg Plants grow on bushes from 

 twelve to eighteen inches high. The fruit is purple and 

 should be picked when it is about two or three inches in 

 diameter. The seeds should be planted in boxes in the 

 window garden or in the hot-bed in February or as soon as 

 the first of March. Cover about quarter of an inch. When 

 the third or fourth leaves are formed, they should be potted 

 into two and a half inch pots and later repotted into four 

 inch pots. They should be transplanted into the open 

 ground about the first of June. The ground should be 

 made very rich. They should be set about two feet apart 

 in the row with the rows two and one half or three feet 

 apart. In setting them, make a hole so the plant can be 

 set a little lower than it was growing in the pot. To re- 

 move it from the pot place the fingers over the pot, so that 

 the plant comes between the first and second fingers, 

 invert it, and thump it lightly on the table, bench, 

 or spade, and the plant will be readily removed. 

 Crumble the upper and lower edges slightly, place it in 

 the hole and press the fine soil about the ball of earth 

 firmly with the ends of the fingers. If it is dry it is best 

 to water. You can begin cutting the fruit in about fifteen 

 weeks after planting and they will continue bearing until 

 frost. The Egg Plant like the tomato furnishes an oppor- 

 tunity for lessons in potting and repotting. 



Endive. For an early crop start in the hot-bed or 

 window garden and transplant the same as the egg plant 

 in rows twelve inches apart with the plants twelve inches 

 apart in the row. For the later crop sow from May ist to 

 July 30th, in the garden, in furrows, one-half inch deep. 

 It germinates readily and will be up in four to six days. 



