STOKES SEED FARMS COMPANY +ss+ MOORESTOWN, NEW JERSEY 



BLACK BEAUTY (x 1/3; 



EGGPLANT 



(Solanum melongena) 



HISTORY — Of tropical origin. Vilmorin definitely credited 

 South America, Bailey, however, placing it in the East Indies. 

 Since the reports of its use as a vegetable come after the dis- 

 covery of America, and owing to its similarity to tomato and 

 pepper, both of which are definitely traced to South America, 

 we are inclined to give Vilmorin credit for being right. The 

 fact that it is called Guana Squash adds further evidence that 

 it is a New World dish, as does the fact that it has been so well 

 known as a vegetable amongst the West Indies since the dis- 

 covery. Gerard in the first edition of his Herbal {1596) shows 

 distinctly that, although eggplant was known in England at 

 the time, it was not considered to have edible qualities. He 

 states, "I rather wish Englishmen to content themselves with 

 the meate and sauce of our own country than with' fruit and 

 sauce eaten with such perill: for doubtless these apples have a 

 mischeevous quality; the use thereof is utterly to be forsaken." 

 To which Phillips {1822) adds: "With this caution we cannot 

 be surprised that the eggplant should have been in our gardens 

 for 220 years without reaching our tables." Eggplant has been 

 cultivated in America for less than a century. 



NEW YORK PURPLE (x 1/3) 



There are not many distinct varieties of eggplant under cultiva- 

 tion. The two we list, viz., Black Beauty and New York Purple, 

 are undoubtedly in greatest demand in this country. The Early 

 Long Purple, the older Black Pekin, the Early Dwarf Purple, and 

 the numerous white varieties are not in large demand. There are 

 one or two white eggplants as used in Europe which are undoubtedly 

 of exceptionally fine quality as table sorts, and it seems more than 

 probable that we shall offer one of these in 1922. 



No. 350— Black Beauty 



Days to Maturity, 125. Introduced by Burpee in 1902, no doubt 

 having been a selection from the earlier Black Pekin as known in 

 this country about the time of the Civil War. Hovey, of Boston, 



listed it as a "new" variety in 1869. This variety is very prolific, 

 bearing well rounded fruits almost egg-shaped. They will average 

 eight inches in length. The color is a rich dark purplish black. Pkt. 

 10c, oz. 50c, M lb. $1.50, 1 lb. $6.00, postpaid. 



No. 352— New York Purple 



Days to Maturity, 140. Listed by B. K. Bliss in 1860. It will 

 produce matured fruit about two weeks after Black Beauty. The 

 outside color is considerably fighter than the Black Beauty and the 

 shape, as shown in the illustration, is quite different, the blossom 

 end being much flatter and the whole effect more triangular than 

 globe shaped. Pkt. 10c, oz. 50c, % lb. $1.50, 1 lb. $6.00, post- 

 paid. 



"J" J ~J^4 J (Brassica oleracea Var. acephala) 



HISTORY — This plant and the so-called Georgia Collard are, ap- 

 parently, more closely akin to the wild cabbage of Europe than any other 

 forms of the cultivated Brassica. Kale is a non-heading cabbage, an 

 annual that does best in the cool portion of autumn and the early spring 

 for its growth. It is hardy enough to withstand the average winter in 

 the latitude of New Jersey. Commercially, it is grown extensively only 

 at Norfolk, Virginia, and on Long Island. It could be grown elsewhere, 

 but the demand has not been great enough. The three varieties we list 

 should cover all. 



No. 370— Dwarf Curled Scotch 



Days to Maturity, 55. In quality, the best kale under cultivation. 

 Listed in this country as early as 1826 by Russell, of Boston, having 

 been spoken of as Norfolk. It is extensively grown in the Norfolk 

 district for the large Eastern markets. A finely curled, low-growing 

 variety of spreading heads and very hardy. This variety is some- 

 times used for garnishing, inasmuch as the leaves are a beautiful 



bright green color, 

 postpaid. 



Pkt. 10c. oz. 15c, M lb. 60c, 1 lb. $2.00, 



No. 372— Siberian 



Days to Maturity, 60. A strain which was selected from the 

 Dwarf German and later acclimated to the Siberian climate. This 

 kale will stand a temperature of several degrees below zero without 

 being affected. It is extremely hardy. However, its quality is not 

 as fine as the Dwarf Curled Scotch. The leaves are broad, finely 

 curled, but not as closely cut as the Dwarf Curled Scotch. Color of 

 leaf is a deep blue-green. Pkt. 5c, oz. 10c, }4 lb. 30c, 1 lb. $1.00, 

 postpaid. 



No. 374 — Imperial Long Standing 



Days to Maturity, 60. A variety which will hold before shooting 

 to seed longer than either of the two other varieties which' we carry. 

 The plant has a more spreading habit than the Scotch or Siberian, 

 but the leaves are beautifully curled and crimpled. While the 

 quality is very fair, it is not equal to the Scotch. The plant itself 

 will be larger than either of the other varieties, and, therefore, has 

 a distinct value commercially. The color is a bright green. Pkt. 

 5c, oz. 10c, \i lb. 30c, 1 lb. $1.00, postpaid. 



SIBERIAN (x:i/3) 



36 



For our prices on plants of eggplants see page 75 



