25 



Spkat Calendar foe Plums. 



First Spray : Before growth starts and as near ihe bursting of the buds as 

 possiWe use home-boiled lime-sulphur or commercial lime-sulphur or home-made 

 concentrated lime-sulphur, winter strength. It is well to use a hydrometer and 

 test the mixture that is being used before applying. 1.032 or 1.030 specific gravity 

 is an average strength, that is, dilute about one to ten. This controls the Scale 

 insects, some Black-Knot and Black-Rot spores and cleans up the tree generally. 



Second Spray : This is applied just after the fruit is set. The blossoms will 

 be off but all the fruits will not yet be free from their calyces. Use commercial 

 lime-sulphur about one to fifty or home-made concentrated lime-sulphur about 

 1.007 test (this would have to be tested in the concentrated form and diluted 

 accordingly), or Bordeaux mixture. To whichever mixture is used add two and 

 one-half pounds of arsenate of lead to each forty gallons of the mixture. 



This further tends to control the disease spores and at the same time the 

 curculio. 



Third Spray: About two weeks after the second spray repeat the application 

 and use the same material at the same strength as for the second spray. This 

 will tend to check any insects or disease spores that may have escaped the former 

 applications. 



Fourth Spray : This spray is optional and is applied only if disease or insects 

 appear aJbout ten days or two weeks later. 



(4) THE LEADIXG COMMON AND COMMERCIAL VARIETIES 



DESCRIBED. 



The following list of varieties is by no means complete, but it is hoped that 

 it will be of some assistance to intending planters. Only those varieties that are 

 most common in Ontario are mentioned and in each case where the variety is of 

 special merit, mention is made of it. They are roughly arranged alphabetically, 

 and in most cases season of ripening is mentioned. 



Abundance. — This is one of the over-planted Japanese varieties, and perhaps 

 the best known of them all. As the name implies it bears regularly and heavily, 

 but the fruit is soft, rots easily and is a poor shipper. The tree is medium to 

 large and adapted to a large range of soils. Its medium to large fruit of a 

 handsome red color makes it rather attractive to the average amateur, but its 

 commercial qualities do not bear out its appearance. Season early and short, about 

 the second and third week in August. Not recommended for commercial planting 

 on a large scale. 



BurbanJc. — This is another one of the over-planted Japanese varieties, as al- 

 most every person who grows plums has a tree or two. It bears annually and 

 abundantly; 'but blossoms early and is consequently sometimes injured by frost. 

 The tree makes rank wood growth and is .characteristic in its branching habit of 

 growth. The fruit ripens the latter part of August, and when of fair size brings 

 a fair price. It should be thinned to get size. A few trees will add to the returns 

 if they are properly cared for, tout the variety is not recommended for extensive 

 commercial planting. 



Bradshaw. — ^This variety also goes by the name of Niagara, and is the earliest 

 good commercial blue plum that we have, ripening about the third week in August. 

 It is the heaviest planted plum in many sections and is a favorite, largely blue in 

 color and of good quality. The tree is vigorous and upright, medium to heavy 



