120 PACTS .l.\l> I^lCl'KES Ok TUP 



CHAPTER XX\1. 



EGG PLANTS. 



\Miile I cannot say that egg plants are hard to grow , the_\' 

 are the most trick}- crop the trucker can [jlant. The)- will 

 not onl)- fail for the aniateur, hut will sometimes fail for 

 the experienced egg plant grower; but they pa)' well for 

 taking the risk, and are certainl)- a prett)' clean cr(.i]) to raise. 



PLANTING. 



In Xorthern and Central Florida the)- are planted for a 

 fall crop in Jul)- and August, raising the i)lants in seed 

 beds and transplanting them when from six to eight inches 

 high. You can raise the fall plants in the open air, using 

 a half-shade of laths tij keep tlie full strength of the sun 

 off of them. For a spring crop, to have them earl)-, the)' 

 should be planted in December or Januar)', sowing the seed 

 in hot beds or cold frames to protect the ])lants from the 

 slightest frost, as they are very easily killed. In Southern 

 Florida plant the seed any time from September first tmtil 

 January. It will not be necessar)- to raise the plants in 

 hot beds, although it is well to have the beds so that a cloth 

 cover can be stretched over them in case of a cold spell. 

 (See chapter on Seed Beds ). It will take from 4 to () ounces 

 of seed to raise enough plants to scl an acre. 



SOIL. 



The egg plant is adapted to a sandy soil, but prefers 

 it rich and deeply cultivated. Migh hammock land is ex- 

 cellent for them. This is one crop which stands dry weather 

 exceedingly well ; in fact, I think it will stand ni-ire than anv 

 crop we plant in this State. It is impossible to get the hind 

 in too good a condition for them. 



