EGG PLANTS. 147 



tub, it may sometimes be found necessary to rub be- 

 tween the hands those portions of the pulp, to which 

 some of the seeds may still adhere. This may be sep- 

 arated from the seed by pouring the contents of the 

 vessel through a sieve, with a mesh large enough for 

 the seed to pass out, while it retains a large part of 

 the pulp. 



When the seed is freed from the pulp it should 

 at once be placed on a fine sieve, or on a board, with 

 a smooth surface, spread out thinly and set in the sun 

 to dry. It should be stirred frequently during the 

 day, say every half hour, so that the surface of the 

 seed will be hardened enough not to sprout during 

 the night. It will require a couple of days' exposure 

 to dry the seed, and when sufficiently dry it should 

 be put into a bag and hung up in a garret or seed- 

 room until wanted. 



Keeping Egg Plants. — ^When the fruit is wanted 

 for winter use the eggs should be taken from the 

 vines in November, or earlier, that is, before being 

 touched by the frost. For a few weeks, until the 

 weather grows colder, they will keep on a bam floor, 

 or imder a shed, where they are sheltered. Later in 

 the season, when severe cold weather sets in, the sound 

 specimens should be placed on shelves in a dry, cool, 

 cellar. With this treatment Egg Plants can be kept 

 in good condition for the table until the first of 

 January. 



Market gardenei-s, who have plenty of frames, 

 often start Egg Plants under glass, early in the sea- 

 son, and force the plants so as to have the fruit early. 

 Two plants to a sash, either in a forcing-pit or spent 



