EGGPLANT 
Culture. For a spring crop, plant seed in November, 
December, and January; for fall crop, plant in June, 
July, and August, in muslin or burlap-covered seedbeds. 
When set in the open, the plants may need some pro- 
tection from the sun. Some growers use palmetto fans, 
stuck slanting on the south side of the hill, which will 
keep the sun from striking the newly set plants with 
full force. Have 4 to 4% feet apart and 2% to 3 feet be- 
tween the plants. Eggplant being a long season crop 
requires several fertilizer applications. Best results are 
obtained by applying half or more of a complete fer- 
tilizer at planting time and the remainder when the 
crop is one-third to one-half grown. The initial appli- 
cation should be made in two bands each located 2 or 
3 inches below and 3 inches to the side of the plant row. 
Subsequent application should be drilled close to the 
plant row. 
Top-dressing applications of nitrogen or a combina- 
tion of nitrogen and potash vary in amount and fre- 
quency according to seasonal conditions. Two or three 
applications at rates equivalent to 100 pounds nitrate of 
soda and 25 pounds muriate of potash per acre gener- 
ally meet the needs during a given growing period. 
For the control of insects and diseases of eggplant see 
page 54. 
The number of days in parentheses after each variety 
indicates the time to first marketable fruits, from setting 
out plants in the field or garden. It usually requires 
six to eight weeks to produce plants for field setting. 
Prices quoted are postpaid. 
Write for special prices on larger quantities. 
If interested particularly in Eggplant production write the Flor- 
ida Agricultural Experiment Station, Mailing Department, Gaines- 
ville, Florida for a free copy of circular 109 entitled ‘Eggplant 
Production Guide.’’ Similarly, if particularly interested in the 
production of any other vegetable crop, write the Experiment 
Station for a free copy of their production guide on that crop, 
being sure to indicate the crop on which you desire guidance. 
Sow % pound in seedbed to plant an acre. 
For the garden sow one packet in seedbed for 17 plants to set 50 feet of row. 
FORT MYERS MARKET. (83 days.) We introduced 
this variety, which is today one of the leading varieties 
grown in the South. Our breeding department has made 
special selections to improve the variety for uniformity 
in type of plant, size, shape and color of fruit. In numer- 
ous tests we have found our strain superior to others in 
that it produces immense yields of uniform, large-sized 
fancy fruits over a long period. The plants are of the 
high-bush type, with very tall, vigorous growth. The 
fruits are slightly elongated, cylindrical in shape, and 
they possess the intense deep black color so much in de- 
mand among buyers and in the markets. 
1 lb. $7.50 
Pkt. 10c; oz. 65c: % Ib. $2.15; 
5 to 25 lbs. $7.40 per lb. 
FLORIDA MARKET (Cook’s Strain) (phomopsis resist- 
ant). (75 days.) This is the disease resistant variety of 
eggplant which Florida growers have been waiting for 
in order to make eggplant production on diseased soils 
a profitable venture. Tip over, leaf blight and fruit rot 
disease all caused by Phomopsis fungus has become so 
severe in the state as to make eggplant production un- 
profitable in some sections. This new variety was 
developed by Dr. Phares Decker, Plant Pathologist at 
the Florida Agricultural Experiment Station, Gaines- 
ville, Fla. It makes a very vigorous growing, sturdy 
bush, holding the fruits well off the ground. It is ex- 
tremely early and a heavy yielder, bearing over a long 
season. This makes it a very desirable variety for 
south Florida where it can be planted in early fall for 
production throughout the winter and spring months. 
The attractive fruits are cylindrical in shape and de- 
velop to a large size. They are of an attractive, dark 
color. After several years of selection on the original 
Florida Market variety, we have in this Cook’s strain 
a great improvement in color, shape and uniformity. 
Under good growing conditions it makes uniform dark 
colored fruits. 
Pkt. 10c; oz. 75c:; % lb. $2.50: 
5 to 25 lbs. $8.90 per lb. 
1 lb. $9.00 
A field of Fort Myers Market Eggplant at harvest time. 
The standard of quality in Florida for over 40 years 
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