CULTURAL DIRECTIONS 339 



early in the spring in rows a foot or more apart and 

 thinned to 6 or 8 inches. 



EGGPLANT (Solanum melongena) 



448. History and importance. — ^The eggplant is thought 

 to have been originated in the East Indies, although there 

 is no definite information concerning its early history. 

 It is generally grown in tropical countries, and is an im- 

 portant vegetable in the United States. The southern 

 and south Atlantic states, New Jersey and California, 

 grow large quantities for commtrcial purposes. In the 

 cooler regions of the North it is often grown in the home 

 gardens, but seldom in commercial plantations. The 

 market demand is increasing. 



449. Botany and uses. — The eggplant is an erect, 

 branching, tender annual. The leaves are entire, oblong 

 and grayish-green. The violet-colored flowers are soli- 

 tary in the axils 'of the branches, shortly stalked and 

 monopetalous ; calyx often spiny, becoming larger as the 

 fruit develops. The fruits are variable in shape, color 

 and size, and are ready to use when one-third grown, 

 continuing to be edible until fully mature. When the 

 seeds begin to harden, the flesh loses its tenderness and 

 delicious qualities. The fruits are usually sliced and 

 fried. 



450. Varieties. — There are three distinct colors of egg- 

 plants; namely, black, purple and white. Black-fruited 

 varieties find most ready sale; purple-fruited sorts are 

 attractive in appearance, but the smaller size of the 

 specimens is objectionable from the market standpoint; 

 white varieties are seldom seen on the market. 



New York Improved is one of the most popular and 

 largely grown of purple sorts. The fruits are large, well 

 shaped and very attractive. 



Black Beauty is an improvement over the New York 



