The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-06-01
Short Chapters on Vegetable Culture.
THE EGGPLANT.

Short Chapters on Vegetable Culture.
THE EGGPLANT.
The eggplant is not very difficult crop
to grow, and yet there are many who will
not undertake its culture under the impress
sion that it is. A failure or two, arising
from non observance OF one or more re-
quirements that are essential to be observed
if a successful result would be assured, may
have given grounds for this conclusion.
These requirements may be enumerated as
follows: a. Protection from the flea
beetle, which is very destructive to the
young plants if left to themselves and not
examined once or twice a day. g. AS
early planting of the crop as the frost will
permit. g. The use of fresh seed of good
variety. A. The setting of the crop on
good soil containing sufticiency of vege-
table matter
These requirements cannot be said to be
much beyond what number Of other plants
call for; but, with the exception Of celery
and caulifower most of our garden plants
can submit to greater neglect Of these sew
eral conditions than the eggplant.
Inc young egg-plants are more subject to
prompt and complete destruction from the
Hea-oeetle than any plant we have ever
grown. Full protection from its ravages
was the first thing we had to learn when
eggplant culture was first attempted, over
twenty years ago, and almost that number
OF Years of successful culture of it may
authorize US in speaking somewhat authorl-
'aaVely on the subject of its culture.
While with the aid of insecticides it is
quite poss, bio to grow the plants in cold
frames placed upon the surface, we found it
Huch more satisfactory to have the egg
pant frame raised four to five feet above
t3e earth. To secure several hundred
plants 3x3 or SKA feet, this frame had
sTong bottom with holes bored in it for
drainage. This was placed on posts four or
I'VE feet high and then filed nearly full
WIN suitable soil. This was done about
week before time for sowing the seed. The
SOL was well shaken down in the frame and
Tue glass sash fitted closely on top. A
spoonful of sulphur was ignited in tin cup
anQ placed inside the frame and the glass
tlghtly closed. This expelled all insects
from the frame. A rag saturated with
Iurpentlne and put in the closed frame ac-
emphasizes this purpose about as well.
:. when time for sowing arrived the soil in
tne frame was thoroughly saturated with
wafer as warm as it could be conveniently
nad After the surface had dried little,
suailow drills were drawn three or four
!ncnes apart and the seed covered with a
thin coating of dry loamy earth
ana the soil was pressed firmly
down on the seed with the hand.
me sash was then put on, and it was only
matter of seven or eight days before the
young plants would make their appearance.
Feb. 10.
Toward the close of the same month or
early in March the greater portion of these
pants were taken out or this frame and
carefully transplanted into another frame
o1o inches and allowed to grow another
month and develop into strong, stocky
pants that would grow right of when
sstanspianted to the open ground from the
nrst to the middle of April There is not
much extra laSo, involved in this careful
proceeding, ano it assured success. We
could always have plenty to sell and to
Keep. In period of fifteen years we lost
Unly one crop partially, aud that arose from
ehe depredations of the false potato beetle,
or or nettle beetle. as il is known to many.
inese beetles appeared suddenly in consid-
erAole forcs one year, and had defolated
epe plants almost completely before being
observed. The plants were half grown
"nen deprecated upon. and only small