ANALYSIS OF THE EGG PLANT. 
297 
5. Proximate organic analysis of the fruit of the Egg plant (PI. 7). 
Sweet matter, extract, and a small quantity of 
a bitter principle ..... 3‘040 
Starch with a little chlorophyl ... O'365 
Albumen.0-255 
Casein ..- 9-200 
Dextrine.0'370 
Fibre.0-760 
Matter dissolved out of fibre by a weak solution 
of caustic potash ...... 0-975 
Water.91-353 
97-318 S. 
PROPORTIONS. 
Water.91-353 
Dry matter - 8-647 
Ash.0-604 
Ash calculated on the dry matter ... 6*981 S. 
The Egg plant [Solanum melongena) is a valuable species, bearing a large purple fruit 
upon a prickly stem. It is fleshy, though rather watery; yet when fried in butter, it 
resembles very tender meat in flavor. It is a delicacy which is far less common than 
might be expected. A single berry sells for one shilling. The plant is an annual, herba¬ 
ceous and branching : it grows two feet high. It may be prepared for food in various 
ways, and is considered as wholesome and delicious. Like the tomato, it is cultivated 
from the seed, which must be sown early in a warm dry mellow soil. 
The Tomato ( Solanum lycopersicum) has been noticed already in connection with the 
potato. This species has increased greatly in esteem during the last ten years. It is now 
Fig. I Fig. 4. 
