92 
A KITCHEN GARDEN 
present in the impalpable powder; it is also claimed 
that it is an excellent fertilizer, as well as being sure 
death to insects. Having used it three seasons, I have 
found it very satisfactory for the preservation of all 
small plants, excepting in one case of young seedlings 
just coming through the soil, in which case a too 
heavy application burned them up. 
The egg plant is a strong, rank grower and a great 
lover of rich soil and of heat. The seed should be 
started in a warm hotbed or greenhouse about the 
last of March, and the soil should be as rich and 
light as possible. If the plants grow rapidly, they 
will be improved by transplanting in the hotbeds, 
as it will help them to form a good bunch of fibrous 
roots, so that they will sustain no check when planted 
out. They should not be set out in the garden until 
warm weather is assured, and then should be planted 
in hills enriched as for melons. These hills need 
not be higher than the surface of the garden, but if 
strong growth and large fruits are desired, a hole 
should be scraped out where each plant is to stand, 
and two or three shovelsful of well-rotted manure or 
compost put in, and the soil leveled off again before 
the plant is set. If the ground is dry when the 
plants are set out, water should be poured in the 
holes dug to receive them, and the dry soil drawn 
up around the stems when the plant has been set. 
The roots of the freshly set plants should not come 
in contact with the manure, but should have two or 
three inches of soil through which to seek it as they 
become established. The fruit should be cut as 
soon as it is of sufficient size and before the seeds 
