270 



Solanaceous Fruits 



ticularly in the Northern States. The ground should be 

 kept in thorough tillage from first to last. 



The plants are started under glass, and they should be 

 6 or 8 inches high and thrifty and stocky 

 when placed in the field. In the Northern 

 States the plants may be even larger than this 

 when transplanted. It is important, however, 

 that the plant receives no check from the 

 %s-? germination of the seed to the setting of the 

 Young egg- fruit. If the plants in the forcing-house or 

 hotbed become crowded and stunted, and 

 the stems" begin to harden, the crop will be much lessened. 

 For home use, and sometimes for special market conditions, 

 it is advisable to handle the young plants in two-inch or 

 three-inch pots. They then suffer no check when taken to 

 the field. 



The fruits are fit for eating from the time they are one- 

 third grown until they are nearly or quite fully ripe. Even 

 after the fruits have reached their full size and color, they 

 may remain on the plant for a time without much de- 



167. 

 plant (X %). 



158. Flowers of eggplant, front and back (X %). 



terioration, although a very ripe fruit is worthless. A 

 heavier crop may be secured by taking off the fruits before 

 they reach their full size. It is necessary, however, that 



