EGG-PLANT. 
G7 
may be given in the heat of the day* Toward the middle 
of May, if the weather be warm and settled, the plants 
should be set out from twenty-four to thirty inches apart, in 
a rich, warm piece of ground; and if kept clean, and a little 
earth be drawn up to their stems when about a foot high, 
they will produce plenty of fruit. 
Plants of the white variety may be riased in the same man 
ner, and transplanted into pots in May; or if some of the 
seed be sown in a warm situation the first week in May, these 
may come to perfection in the course of the summer. This 
variety, though generally cultivated for ornament, is good 
when cooked. 
As Egg plants will not grow in the open ground until set- 
tled warm weather, and are apt to perish from being trans- 
planted too early, the gardener should be provided with small 
pots, in order that the plants may be transplanted therein 
early in May, and placed in a frame, there to remain until 
the first week in June, at which time, if they are turned out 
and planted, with the balls of earth entire, they will soon take 
root and grow freely. 
Select the fruit when at maturity; cut it into slices, and 
parboil it in a stewpan ; when softened, drain off the water ; 
it may then be fried in batter made with wheaten flour and 
an egg, or in fresh butter with bread grated fine and sea 
soned before it is put in the pan, with pepper, salt, thyme, 
and such other herbs as may best suit the palate. Some use 
Marjoram, Summer Savory, Parsley, Onion, &c. 
* Egg-plant seed will not vegetate freely without substantial heat ; but with 
proper management, upward of four thousand plants may be raised from 
an ounce of seed. If these plants get the least chilled in the earlier stages 
of growth, they seldom recover ; it is, therefore, important that the frame 
allotted for them be placed over a well-regulated hot-bed, and partitioned 
off, so that the sash can be kept down over the plants in cool weather. 
Some gardeners raise Egg-plants in the same frame with Cabbage, and 
such other half-hardy plants as require air every mild day ; by such man- 
agement, one or the other must suffer for want of suitable aliment, heat 
being the principal food of tender plants, and air that of the more hardy 
species 
