28 
HINTS AND HELPS 
used in the early spring, they should be kept mowed to 
prevent their going to seed as they may become a trouble¬ 
some weed. They are used not only for greens, but also 
blanched and used for a salad. The seeds should be 
lightly covered and the plants kept in a good state of til¬ 
lage. It is not a plant to grow in the School Garden. 
Egg Plant. Egg Plants grow on bushes from 
twelve to eighteen inches high. The fruit is purple and 
should be picked when it is about two or three inches in 
diameter. The seeds should be planted in boxes in the 
window garden or in the hot-bed in February or as soon as 
the first of March. Cover about quarter of an inch. When 
the third or fourth leaves are formed, they should be potted 
into two and a half inch pots and later repotted into four 
inch pots. They should be transplanted into the open 
ground about the first of June. The ground should be 
made very rich. They should be set about two feet apart 
in the row with the rows two and one half or three feet 
apart. In setting them, make a hole so the plant can be 
set a little lower than it was growing in the pot. To re¬ 
move it from the pot place the fingers over the pot, so that 
the plant comes between the first and second fingers, 
invert it, and thump it lightly on the table, bench, 
or spade, and the plant will be readily removed. 
Crumble the upper and lower edges slightly, place it in 
the hole and press the fine soil about the ball of earth 
firmly with the ends of the fingers. If it is dry it is best 
to water. You can begin cutting the fruit in about fifteen 
weeks after planting and they will continue bearing until 
frost. The Egg Plant like the tomato furnishes an oppor¬ 
tunity for lessons in potting and repotting. 
Endive. For an early crop start in the hot-bed or 
window garden and transplant the same as the egg plant 
in rows twelve inches apart with the plants twelve inches 
apart in the row. For the later crop sow from May ist to 
July 30th, in the garden, in furrows, one-half inch deep. 
It germinates readily and will be up in four to six days. 
