134 



Garden Eggs. 



Sow early in August and again in September to have fruit from Jan* 

 uary till May. Strictly speaking Garden Eggs, Tomatoes, Melons, Cu- 

 cumbers, etc., are fruits, but they are usually cultivated, and classed 

 among vegetable crops. 



The following information was given in Bulletin No. 87 : — 



Soil and situation — A good rich soil is necessary, plenty of thorough- 

 ly rotted short stable or cattle manure should be dug in. A sheltered 

 position should be chosen, where abundance of water can be given. 



Sowing seed. — The seed is sown in nursery beds. About one ounce of 

 seed should give 100 plants. 



Planting. — The plants are set out at 3 feet apart in a row, the rows 

 being 5 feet apart. About 3,000 plants go to the acre. 



Cultivation. — If well grown, large fruits are desired, only a certain 

 number should be allowed to each plant in proportion to the strength 

 and peculiar variety. The ends of the branches should be pinched when 

 the fruit are ripening. The varieties differ in the length of time they 

 take to ripen their fruit, from two to six months. In a tropical climate 

 like Jamaica, it is preferable to grow those varieties which require the 

 longest time, as the fruit is larger and better flavoured. In temperate 

 climates, on the other hand, the " early" varieties are preferred. 



Varieties, — The following are the chief varieties — 



(1) Long Purple. — The fruit is from 6 to 8 inches long, and 2 to 3 

 inches in diameter. It is best in quality before it is fully grown. Five 

 or six months are necessary for its growth. There may be 8 or 10 fruits 

 on a large healthy plant. 



(2) Early Long Purple. — This is only an early variety of the preced- 

 ing, and the plant is not so strong nor so large. 



(3) Bound Purple. — The fruits are large and somewhat pear-shaped. 

 Not more than 3 or 4 should be left to grow on a plant, 



(4) Neic York Improved. —The fruit is like that of the Bound Purple, 

 but the plant is smaller. Not more than 2 fruits should be allowed to 

 a single plant. 



(5) Early Dwarf Purple. — This is an early variety. The plant is 

 low-growing and branching, and may carry 10 or 12 fruits. The fruit 

 is of a longer shape than the Bound Purple, 3 or 4 inches long and 

 about 2 in diameter at the thick end. 



(6) White China.— This is a very distinct variety, with long slender 

 white fruit. 



(7.) Landreth 9 8 Thomless Large Bound Purple. — This is a variety re- 

 commended by Messrs. Landreth. 



(8) Large Bound White. — Similar to No. (7) but white in colour. 

 Nos. 1 to 6 can be obtained from Messrs. Vilmorin, Andrieux 8f 

 Co., 4, Quat ie la Megisserie, Paris, and Nos. (2), (4), (7) and (8) from 

 Messrs. Landreth, 21 South Sixth St., Philadelphia, If. 8. A. 



On Prices. — Commission Merchants in Philadelphia pay the market 

 gardener about on an average one-and-a-half cents per fruit. The high- 

 est prices are eight and ten cents per fruit. 



Florida fruit arrives in Philadelphia the latter part of November, and 

 commands $6 to $8, per barrel crate. Earlier in the Autumn the 

 market is supplied by fruit from Jersey. Towards Christmas the price 

 of Florida Egg plants rises to $10 per barrel crate, and then declines by 



