744 Agricultural Gazette of N.S.W [Oct. 2, 1920. 



Three New Varieties of Plums ♦ 



W. J. ALLEN 



Two local seedling plums, Higgiiis' Seedling, and Wilson's Seedling, have 

 lately been under the observation of the Department ; the special features 

 of both are earliness and a constant he;i.vy cropping habit. Owing to their 

 earliness, they have brought good prices on the Sydney market, but, as they 

 are not of high quality and could easily be over-product^d, it would be unwise- 

 for growers to plant them extensively. They should only be planted in 

 early coastal districts. 



Higgins' Seedling, which was forwarded by Mr. Fruit Inspector Stokes, 

 Galston, is a chance seedling raised by Mr. Higgins, Hornsby Valley. 

 It is of cherry plum type, hn'i is a far more reliable cropper, and the owner 

 of the original tree finds it very profitable. Its true value is in its earliness, 

 but Mr. Stokes points out that it is growing under exceptional conditions, 

 viz., in a hot valley in a rich deep soil, and that it may not be so satisfactory 

 on the general run of country in the County of Cumberland. It miy be 

 described as follows: — Habit of growth of tree: vigorous and rather more 

 spreading than uprigiit. Fruit: roundish, conical. Suture: not prominent,, 

 but discernible half way. Size : small to medium. Cavity : narrow, fairly 

 deep. Stalk : Slender, medium to almost long. Colour : red to dark-red 

 when fully ii])e. Flesh: red when fully ripe, firm until ripe. Stone: 

 small, rather flat, almost free when fruit is ripe. Flavour : slightly 

 acid. Cropping habit : heavy. Picking dates for market : from 24th 

 November onward. 



Wilson's Seedling (forwarded by Mr. Fruit Inspector Gallard, Epping) 

 i,s a chance seedling raised by Mr. Wilson, of Eastwood. This plum, too, is 

 of the cherry pluin type, buC it is a much more reliable cropper. It colours 

 while still firuj, and up tf> the present has proved protitable, as the trees 

 crop heavily. Following is its description : — Habit of growth of tree : 

 vigorous, spurs freely. Fruit : roundish. Suture : not prominent, but 

 showing half way. Size : small to medium. Cavity : narrow, fairly deep. 

 Stalk : slender, short. Colour : dull red on greenish ground, while still quite 

 linn when in marketing condition ; lipens after picking to a deep attractive 

 red all over. Flesh : yellow with a stain of red near the skin ; firm until 

 ripe. Stone: small, flat, almost free when plum ripe. Flavour: fair, 

 inclined to be acid near the skin. Cropping liabit : heavy. Picking dates 

 for market : In 1919, from 2 Uh November to 6th December, which is about 

 a week later than usual. 



Another new variety woi-thy (»f mention i.'- Tuckei's Px'auty. This was 

 also submitterl by Mr. (iallard, having bef^n importcul by the late Mr. 

 Churchill Tucker from Luther Burbank. This plum, says Mr. Gallard, ju.st 

 follows Wilson's Seedling and just precedes Shiro in period of jiicking. For 



