104 EXPERIMENTAL FARMS. 



64 VICTORIA, A. 1901 



At the Central Experimental Farm there are now 76 varieties of American 

 plums, a large proportion of whioli have fruited, and following are descriptions of the 

 best of them, with names of the varieties which may be used as pollenizers to fertilize 

 them : — 



Aitkin, nigi-a. — Ripe August 22, 1899, and August 24. 1900. Fruit large, oval, 

 suture merely an obscure line; colour uniformly deep red all over; flesh deep yellow, 

 juicy, sweet, but not rich nor high flavoured; stone large, flat, semi-cling; skin rather 

 thin, tough and astringent. Quality above medium. Tree a vigorous upright grower 

 and a medium bearer. As grown here, the only good points in this plum are its 

 earliness and attractive appearance; but earliness is a very desirable characteristic, 

 and it is worth planting on this account. Cheney, however, which follows it in ten 

 or eleven days, is so much better in every way, and for home use, especially, that it is 

 much to be preferred. 



Cheney, nigra. — Ripe September 2, 1899, September 4, 1900. Fniit large, oblong 

 to roundish, suture distinct; colour uniformly purplish-red all over; flesh deep yel- 

 low, juicy, sweet, rich; stone of medium size, flat, cling; skin moderately thick, tough, 

 without astringency. Quality good. Tree upright, vigorous, and a good bearer. 

 This and Bixby are the two best early plums which have fruited here, and they 

 should both be planted. 



Bixby, americana. — Ripe August 31, 1899, September 6, 1900. Fruit large, round; 

 colour yellow, more or less covered with red; bloom rather heavy; flesh deep yellow, 

 juicy, sweet, rich ; stone of medium size, almost free ; skin thick but tender and without 

 astringency. Quality very good. Tree spreading, vigorous, and a heavy bearer. This 

 is the earliest good plum of the americana group which has fruited here. It is well 

 worth growing on account of its earliness, productiveness and quality. It does not 

 ripen its fruit as early as some nor is it very firm, but on the whole it is a good plum. 



Gaylord, americana. — Ripe September 6, 1899, September 13, 1900. Fruit almost 

 large, roundish, somewhat heart-shaped, suture distinct; colour yellow, almost covered 

 with deep red, with a bloom; flesh deep yellow, juicy, sweet, rich; stone of medium 

 size, free; skin moderately thick and fairly tender; slightly astringent. Quality 

 good. Tree spreading, vigorous, and a good bearer. A fine plum. 



New Ulm, americana. — Ripe September 11, 1899, September 18, 1900. Fruit 

 large, nearly round, somewhat heart-shaped, suture distinct; colour yellow, more or 

 less covered with pink or purplish-red, sometimes the surface has a mottled appear- 

 ance when the yellow shows through the red; bloor* moderately heavy; flesh deep yel- 

 low, juicy, sweet; stone of medium size, cling. Skin thick and tough, but not 

 astringent. Quality gpud. Tree vigorous, of a low, spreading habit, and a good 

 bearer. This is a firm plum, and should prove a very useful sort for shipping. 



Wolf, americana. — Ripe September 14, 1899, September 18, 1900. Fruit large, 

 roundish to oval; sut-ure fairly disti'nct; colour uniformly dull deep-red all over; bloom 

 moderately heavy; flesh deep yellow, juicy, sweet, rich; stone large, cling; skin thick 

 and tough, and but slightly astringent. Quality good. Tree somewhat spreading, 

 vigorous, productive. The Wolf as grown at the Central Experimental Farm is dif- 

 ferent from that described by most writers; one great difference being that the one 

 grown here has a cling stone. There is no ether plum in our collection, however, 

 which resembles it, hence the name will not be changed for the present. It is one 

 of the yery best of the American plums. The Wolf described by others is also said 

 to be one of the best. When it fruits here the two will be con>pared. 



City, americana. — Ripe September 14, 1899, September 18, 1900. Fruit large, 

 round; suture distinct; colour ycll'ow, almost covered with i-ed, but not of a very 



