THE Ysn 



GARDEN YARD 



even in the hot-bed, the yield is seriously re- 

 duced. For this reason, growers often start 

 it in two-inch or three-inch flower pots, or 

 in old, small berry .baskets, as it is less Ukely 

 to suffer a check when transplanted to the gar- 

 den. Eggplants do not need so much moisture 

 as peas or cool-season crops, and whatever fer- 

 tilizer is applied must be quickly available. Per- 

 fect tillage is necessary from first to last. 



Eggplants are set in rows far enough apart to 

 admit of horse-tillage, from 3| to 4 feet apart, 

 and two to four feet apart in the rows, accord- 

 ing to the variety of plant grown. The fruits 

 are fit to eat when they have reached one-third 

 their full size, and are desirable until they are 

 fully ripe, when they lose their value as food. 



Although the fruit may be left on the plant 

 until fully grown, a larger crop is secured by 

 picking before their full size is reached. For 

 market, however, they must be well colored. 

 The large varieties such as New York Improved 

 and the Black Pekin bring the highest prices 

 in the market, but it is difficult to grow them to 

 perfection in the Northern States because of 

 the short season. Some of the dwarfs, notably 

 the Early Dwarf Purple, are more desirable. 

 White eggplants are not popular, because they 

 are usually an ugly yellow, while the striped and 



