By Mr. Andrew Mathews. 83 



writings of the old Botanists, and are perhaps either distinct 

 species or not in cultivation in the present time. 



The Eatable Egg Plants have received a variety of appel- 

 lations, and are known in various countries by the following 

 names, viz. : in Arabia, Bedegian, (Rauwolf), Bydendjan, or 

 Badingian, (Dunal) ; in Turkey, according to Miller, Ba- 

 dinjan, or according to Dr. Walsh Palindjam •* in Spain, 

 Barenkeena, (Miller) ; in Portugal, Beringella, (Brotero) ; 

 in Italy, Melanzana (Mala insana), (Miller) ; and in France, 

 Melongene, (Dunal); Merangene, (Noisette) ; Mayenne, 

 (Dunal); Meringeane, (Jard. Pot.); Verangeane, (Du- 

 nal) ; and Viedaze, (Noisette) ; but chiefly Aubergine. 

 Miller, in the Eighth Edition of his Dictionary, describes 

 these plants under the generic name of Melongena, but has 

 mixed and confounded the White Egg Plant and its varieties 

 with the edible Purple-fruited kinds ; he says they are called 

 Brown John, or Brown Jolly, in the West Indies. According 

 to Browne,*!* the Brown Jolly, or Bolangena of Jamaica, is 

 perennial, and a rough and prickly plant, and if the same as 

 ours, must be considerably altered in its general character by 

 climate. In the East Indies they are known by the name of 

 Brinjalls. 



As esculent vegetables, they will be in this country con- 

 sidered more as a matter of curiosity than of general utility. 

 They have already engaged the notice of the Horticultural 

 Society. In the Sixth Volume of the Transactions, page 1 16, 

 is an account of a method of growing them under frames, 

 communicated in 1822 by Captain Rainier, who at the same 

 time gave some instructions for preparing them for the table. 



• See Horticultural Transactions, Vol. vi. page 53. 

 f History of Jamaica, page 173. 



