266 



GARDENING FOR THE SOUTH. 



Large Prickly- Stemmed Purj)le is the largest variety, 

 often growing to a diameter of eight inches, shape slightly 

 oval, and dark purple color. 



Long Purple is perhaps the best kind for family use, as 

 it is ten days earlier than the other varieties, and though 

 not growing so large, is very prolific in fruit. 



The fruit of the purple egg-plant has been analyzed by 

 J. H. Salisbury. One thousand pounds of the undried 

 fruit will yield 6^1^ pounds of ash, constituted as follows 



Carbonic Acid, .... 

 Silicic Acid, .... 

 Sulphuric Acid, 



Phosphoric Acid and Peroxide of 



Lime, 



Magnesia, .... 



Potash, 



Soda, 



Sodium, 



Chlorine, .... 

 Organic Acids, 



Iron 



.2889 

 .1038 

 .2898 

 1.7595 

 .0046 

 .0828 

 1.2496 

 1.9525 

 .068G 

 .1057 

 .1341 



6.0399 



Over two-thirds of the fruit is made up of potash, soda, 

 and phosphates. Salt, ashes and bone-dust, or better, super- 

 phosphate of lime, may be freely applied to the soil for this 

 crop. 



Culture. — Egg-plants require a light, loamy, rich soil to 

 bring their fruit early to perfection. They like the soil 

 manured with half decayed leaves, well dug in. To have 

 them early, sow them in a hot-bed, or in a cold frame 

 under glass, the latter part of February, or early in March. 

 The rows may be six or eight inches apart, made shallow 

 and the earth pressed upon the seed. Keep the sash care- 

 fully closed until the plants are up, and then give air in 

 warm days. Egg-plants succeed best with a small frame to 



