It is rarely if ever used for food, but is principally cultivated for its peculiar, richly colored, and ornamental fruit, which makes a fine garnish.

The variety is late, and comparatively tender. The seeds should be started early in a hot-bed, and the plants grown in a warm and sheltered situation.

White Egg-Plant.

Fruit milk-white, egg-shaped, varying from three to five inches in length, and from two inches and a half to three inches and a half in diameter.

It is the earliest, hardiest, and most productive of all varieties. The plants frequently produce five or six fruits each; but the first formed are generally the largest.

If sown in the open ground early in May, the plants will often perfect a portion of their fruit; but they are most productive when started in a hot-bed.

The fruit is sometimes eaten cooked in the manner of the Purple varieties, but is less esteemed.


MARTYNIA.

Unicorn Plant. Gray. Martynia proboscidea.