PLUMS AND PLUM CULTURE IN" MICHIGAN. 249 



its fruiting in this country. It will, even as far north as Southern Michigan, ripen 

 somewhat in advance of the season named, ana will at least sustain the character 

 above given, if indeed it does not somewhat improve in quality, under the 

 influence of our warm sun and bright summers. Indeed, our own experience 

 with it, in the same plat and exposure with the Reiue Claude, has impressed 

 me with the conviction that, with us, it is very nearly its equal, even in 

 quality; while, in several other respects, it is decidedly the superior of that 

 old and representative variety. 



INTELLIGE^s'T LABOR INSURES SUCCESS. 



Having thus gone through the list of varieties recommended for general 

 cultivation, we, in taking leave of the subject, would remark that fruit culture, 

 like every other pursuit of an agricultural character, offers no royal road to 

 success. To the truth of this remark, plum culture is certainly not an excep- 

 tion. Nor yet, on the other hand, does it present any unusual or insuperable 

 difficulties. The curculio and the black knot, with this fruit, are not more 

 serious obstacles, if we take into consideration the means of efficient preven- 

 tion, than are the codling moth, the borer, and the blight, which so seriously 

 interfere with our success with the apple and the pear. True, if utterly 

 neglected for a few years, the curculio is certain to utterly annihilate the crop 

 of pluma; while, under these circumstances, the black knot will, with almost 

 equal certainty ruin the trees. But, on the other hand, the codling moth, 

 with years of neglect, at length appropriates, as he is already doing in the 

 older portions of the State, almost the entire crop of apples, at least in a 

 season of sparse bearing, while neglected or stinted trees are pretty certain to 

 fall a prey to the borer, and even vigorous trees are liable to be summarily 

 devoted to the blight. It must also not bo forgotten that, in the present state 

 of our knowledge of these insects, we can, after years of neglect of the plum, 

 at any time, take up the warfare against the curculio, and, by sturdy persist- 

 ence, rescue a crop from the destroyer; while, on the other hand, the increase 

 of the codling moth, consequent upon continued neglect, can be subdued, if 

 at all, only by years of persevering effort, in the application of the known and 

 recognized remedies, while the probabilities are that, with this latter enemy, 

 the most thorough warfare will result in but partial success; or, at the best, 

 that complete success must be dependent upon the ability to command intelli- 

 gent and efficient co-operation throughout a very considerable range of terri- 

 tory, and for a considerable term of years. 



The time seems, however, to have already passed by, when intelligent fruit 

 growers expect to reach the goal of success, by sleeping on their oars; and, as 

 it is such only that we are presumed to be addressing, we close by saying: 

 Study carefully the tree, the fruit, the soils and modes of culture and manage- 

 ment, together with the insects and other enemies of the plum; and, in so 

 doing, you will be sure to gather, not only a love of the subject, but also a 

 confidence, begotten of knowledge, that, in this as readily, at least, as in other 

 branches of fruit culture, is to be found a broad and practicable road to suc- 

 cess, — a success all the more certain and laudable for the reason that the path 

 is sure not to be beaten by the feet of t!ie motley crowd who lack the courage 

 to diverge from the track beaten by the multitude, or to undertake the race for 

 success in the face of positive difficulties. 

 33 



