Studies on the raising of eggplant seedlings and consideration of the necessity of raising seedlings of Solanaceous and Cucurbitaceous vegetables in the hotbed and cold frame, in the Ryukyus.

1. It is said that it is not necessary to raise seedlings of solanaceous and cucurbitaceous vegetables in the cold frame or in the hotbed in the Ryukyus. This idea is an obstacle to the improvement of Ryukuys agriculture. This report aims to prove that it is beneficial to raise seedlings of these vegetables in the hotbed or in the cold frame in winter, through studies of the eggplant. 2. The main purposes of raising seedlings of the vegetables in the Ryukyus are (1) to intensify the use of land, by a rational rotation system and by shortening the period during which the vegetables occupy land, and (2) to market them in April and May when the unit prices of these vegetables are high. The unit prices of them are extraordinarily high in the early market, but drop rapidly in June. 3. The studies were conducted at University of the Ryukyus, using nine small concrete frames, 72.7cm. in length, 45.5cm. in width, and 45.5cm. in depth. 4. As sowing beds, the nine frames were divided into three classes in accordance with the sash and cover used , and into three groups in accordance with the source of heat. The classes of treatments consisted of: Class 1 (frames A, B, & C)-frames with glass-sash and old matting cover at night; Class 2 (frames D, E, & F)-frames with only glass-sash: and Class 3(frames G, H, & I)-frames without sash and cover. The groups of treatments consisted of: Group 1 (frames A, D, & G)-manure heated hotbeds; Group 2(frames B, E, & H) cold frames in which soil for plant bed was placed on 3 cm. of straw, so that radiant heat might be stored in the bedding soil, preventing its escape to the soil underneath, and Group 3 (frames C.F. & I)-untreated cold frames. 5. Eggplant seeds, variety "Nakate-kitshin", were sown on January 19, 1957. On February 19, seedlings were measured as to height and weight, and were transplanted in the same nine frames-two seedlings from each frame, a total of 18 plants, plus 6 seedlings which were raised in the same condition as those in frame A, were transplanted in each transplanting bed. On March 19, the average weight of the 2 seedlings raised in a combination of treatments in the sowing and transplanting beds, a total of 81 combinations were measured. And the 6 seedlings from each frame, a total of 54 plants were transplanted to the experimental farm. The data had been collected up to May 13. All tests were made in randamized blocks