Tomato and Eggplant 



267 



Leaves thinner and smaller than in L. esculentum, the leaflets 

 usually less acuminate, the shoots or branches rather more 

 erect : flowers in longer racemif orm clusters : fruit small, 

 few-celled, globular. — Used for preserves, in the red and yel- 

 low kinds. Probably nearly or quite the original type of the 

 tomato. Var. pyriforme, Alef. 1. c. (L. pyriforme, Dunal, 1. c, 

 112). Pear Tomato. Differs in bearing pear-shaped and usu- 

 ally somewhat larger fruits (Fig. 148). 



L. pimpinellifolium, Mill. Gard. Diet. No. 4. 1768. {Solanum 

 pimpinellifoUum, Linn. Amoen. Acad, iv, 268. 1759.) Cuerant 

 Tomato. Weak and diffuse plant, very finely pubescent, not 

 hairy, the herbage emitting only a mild odor : leaflets small, 

 ovate, the margins obscurely toothed or entire, apex acute 

 or obtuse, not acuminate : flowers in elongating 2-sided 

 racemes: fruit small, 2-celled, like large red currants (about 

 % in. diameter) 10 to 30 or more in the cluster, the acute 

 sepal-lobes reflexed : seeds small, smooth. — Peru and probably 

 elsewhere in South America. The botanical identity of the' 

 cultivated plant needs further consideration. 



EGGPLANT 



Tlie essentials in eggplant culture are practically the 

 same as in tomato culture, except that the plant requires a 

 still longer season, and greater pains must he taken thai 

 the young plants are not checked hut have a continuous 

 rapid growth. 



Eggplants are set in rows far enough apart to admit of 

 horse tillage, usually 3 to 4 ft. for the large varieties. In 

 the rows the plants are set from 18 in. to 3 or 4 ft. A com- 

 mon distance is 20 to 24 in., when the rows are spaced at 3 ft. 

 The distance is determined largely by the variety. An ounce 

 of eggplant seed should give 2,000 to 3,000 strong plants. 



Wilt {Verticilliiim alhoatrum). — Affected plants make a 

 stunted growth, and the lower leaves gradually yellow and 

 wilt, causing defoliation. Many plants die prematurely. The 

 wood of all parts of affected plants in the later stages of the 



