POPULAR AND VALUABLE VARIETIES OF FRUIT. 35 



nectarine; color creamy white, marbled and blotched witli crimson; flavor a 

 combination of the peach and nectarine; quite original and exquisite. Sea- 

 son middle to end of August. 



Prince of Wales— \Qyy large; color deep crimson; melting, rich, and ex- 

 cellent; avery fine peach. Middle of September. 



Princess of Wales — Very large ; one of the largest peaches known, and one 

 of the most "beautiful, its color cream, with a rosy cheek; melting, rich, and 

 excellent. 



Rivers' Early Fo/-^-— Medium size; skin marbled with red; flesh so melt- 

 ing and juicy as to dissolve in the mouth, leaving no flbre. Season early in 

 August. 



The Nectarine Peach — Very large; pointed, with a smooth, nectarine-like 

 skin ; flesh melting, rich, and racy. Season the middle of September. 



PLUMS. 

 DISEASES AISD ENEMIES OF THE PLUM. 



The prevalence of that disease of the plum commonly called the "black 

 knot,'" and of the insect known as the curculio, has of late discouraged people 

 generally from giving to the plum its merited share of attention. It is not to 

 be denied that these are obstacles of considerable magnitude to indifierent, 

 slovenly cultivators; but we are satisfied, from actual experience, that nothing 

 more than ordinary industry and perseverance is required to overcome them 

 entirely. Western New York is not exempt from these difficulties, any more 

 than other localities; we hear complaints about "knots" and "curculio" all 

 around us; yet we are able to fruit, in the most successful manner, some 70 or 

 80 varieties of plums annually, getting not merely a few scattering fruits, but 

 full crops, weighing down the branches, as all will acknowledge who have seen 

 our trees. 



This success of ours is not due to any extraordinary skill, nor to any pecu- 

 liarity of soil or climate, but to reasonably good care and culture. 



Nothing is more favorable to the growth of the black fungus, or knot, than 

 neglect. We have seen trees growing in grass in some uncultivated door yards 

 transformed into a mere mass of black knots, while trees in neighboring gar- 

 dens, under good cultivation, were entirely exempt. In our specimen plum 

 orchard we have never lost a tree by this disease ; it does occasionally make 

 its appearance, but we instantly remove it. Our preventives and remedies are 

 good, clean culture, and prompt amputation. 



As for the curculio, we find no difficulty in protecting the crop from it, by 

 merely employing a little extra labor. When the trees blossom, and as the 

 fruit begins to set, we dress the ground al)out the plum trees, and make it 

 yery clean and smooth. Then as soon as the curculio commences its opera- 

 tions, we spread a large sheet, prepared for the purpose, around each tree, and 

 jar.it so as to shake down all fruits that have been stung, as well as all the 

 curculios. Both insects and stung fruits are destroyed, and the ground is 

 swept as clean as a floor. This work is performed daily, and insures a full 

 crop. The work is done quickly ; a dozen trees in a garden can be attended 

 to daily in less than half an hour's work of a man. Let those who really de- 

 sire to grow fine crops of delicious plums try this system, andfolloiu it up rig- 

 idly, and they will be successful. — Barry £ Ellwanger. 



Should the insects be very abundxint, they may be destroyed by throwing 



