214 STATE POMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 



PLUMS. 



Question. — Can plum culture be made profitable in Western Xew York? 



This question, which was passed over in its regular order, was now called up 

 and Mr. George Ellwanger, of Rochester, read the following paper on "The 

 Plum — Its Importance and Value as a Market Fruit:" 



Your Committee on Foreign Fruits have omitted the usual report. Owing 

 to various causes very few new fruits of special value have come under their 

 notice, and in its stead they have decided to say something on the plum. 



It seems strange that a fruit in such demand, at good paying prices, should 

 not have received more attention at the hands of Fruit Culturists. 



Whether the bug-bear, the curculio, or a want of knowledge of its value as 

 a market fruit is at fault, we are at a loss to determine. Certain it is that an 

 important branch of fruit culture has been neglected in this country, and what 

 might be rendered a valuable source of revenue, has been allowed to remain 

 comparatively unnoticed. 



In Europe a more proper estimate is placed on the plum, as a market fruit, 

 both for export and home consumption. 



In many parts of the continent the returns received from plum culture far 

 exceed those of pears and apples combined, the varieties of prunes, especially, 

 being grown on a vast scale for drying purposes. 



In some places plum culture gives rise to a special industry — the manufac- 

 turing of plum brandy, which is considered by many equal to the celebrated 

 " Kirschenwasser" of Switzerland and Germany. 



In several departments of France the culture of the Reine Claudes is also a 

 source of immense revenue to those who en^a^e in it. 



Large quantities of French and German dried prunes, put up in various 

 forms, are disposed of in the American market at good prices, there being no 

 domestic article offered in their place. 



The home supply of green fruits, even where they are most extensively grown, 

 has never yet been equal to the demand. Even as a table or dessert fruit it is 

 comparatively but little known, the knowledge of its qualities being generally 

 confined to the common yellow egg, and the small blue plums of the country. 



The only blue plum orchards of any importance in a bearing state, are those 

 on the Hudson river, that in part supply the New York market. In Ohio, how- 

 ever, the planting of plum orchards on an extensive scale has been taken up 

 more vigorously within a few years, and received through the efforts M. B. Bate- 

 ham, an impetus that will doinuch to swell the revenue derived from fruit cul- 

 ture in that State. 



The plum is one of the most easily cultivated of fruit trees, although a heavy 

 loam is preferable, and thrives in our severe climate, where the peach tree does 

 not succeed. 



Its time of ripening, in a well assorted collection, may be extended from 

 August to early winter. It is a regular bearer, and its fruits always command 

 a ready market. The price of good plums in our market last year aver- 

 aged $3.50 per bushel. Some of the very finest sold as high as $7 per bushel, 

 and the supply of a first-class article was very limited. 



The trees should be planted about fifteen feet apart for an orchard, and kept 

 under clean cultivation. It requires but little pruning, sufficient only to main- 

 tain it in proper shape. After being in bearing a few years, the trees should 

 receive an annual top-dressing, which proves more beneficial when varied each 



