46 STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



every year. It may be grown with success upon the peach or plum. It is a hardy 

 tree, and, all else being equal, may be depended upon for a ci'op in alternate years, 

 and possibly with a light crop the off year. The fruit is of greatest excellence, 

 both for eating from the hand and preserving, and has no equal for lieeping in 

 fine condition for long-distance shipments. So much for the prune. 



Some one inquires, "What other good sorts, or most valuable, for the commer- 

 cial orchard?" My response is, "Few early are wanted, and among them my favor- 

 ite is Field, a seedling of Bradshaw, of about same size, a little darlier in color 

 and ripening ten days earlier. A commercial plum orchard is hardly complete 

 without a few Damsons, that are generally wanted in the city markets. Hence I 

 would add in the list some Shropshire, French, and Blue Damsons. The Heine 

 Clf.ude de Bavay, while a little tender as a tree, is a great producer of excellent 

 fruit, and being classed in the list of late plums is unexcelled as a light-colored 

 fruit, and finds a I'eady market at paying prices. It is my choice outside of the 

 dark-colored sorts. Black Diamond is a gem indeed. It ripens just a little after 

 Lombard, and when better known will be sought after. While Grand Duke, Arch- 

 duke, and Monarch, all large-size sorts, should be found in the coming orchard, 

 French Copper, an exceedingly poor grower, of medium size, is unexcelled as a 

 producer, and comes so late, with no tendency to decay, that it is one of the best 

 paying sorts in the list. The ditticulty is that, in its growing habit, it is so rough 

 that no nurseryman will grow it at a price planters are willing to pay. 



The Japanese varieties have paid me well, especially Burbank, which so far I 

 regard as much the best. 



Lombard possesses advantages that make it the most desirable of all, as a 

 variety on which to wox'k sorts having bad habits of growth. So I often plant it 

 for this purpose only. From a quarter century's experience with a multitude of 

 varieties, I see no reason for discouragement to the intelligent plum-grower; but, 

 with the prosperity which is bdund to dawn upon the country sooner or later 

 (and sooner than many anticipate), I fully believe there is a fortune within the 

 reach of those men who put in the plantings of the right sorts in the right place. 



It is quite possible that my choice of varieties may not be the wisest selection 

 for your lake shore, but they certainly are most desirable for my location, and 

 some of them I am thoroughly assured will do equally well with you. 



As usual, I am hurried with my work, otherwise I would be glad to add a few 

 words as to feeding, pruning, and other points of importance in connection with the 

 work. 



Your friend, 



S. D. WILLARD. 



DISCUSSION. 



Mr. Haight: Has any one noticed a spot of some kind on the plums, 

 thesQ latter j'ears? Perhaps it does not date back more than three or 

 four years; it is a blue spot about the size of your finger nail, and it 

 appears on Damsons and one or two other varieties. It is something 

 new, and I have been unable to have it explained. 



Mr. Morrill: Is it a disease? 



A. I think so. 



Q. Is it materially damaging the fruit? A. After the plum is grown 

 there is a hard lump. 



Mr. Hawley: In regard to that blue spot, I believe he refers to a con- 

 dition of the fruit which I have noticed. I sent some of the plums to the 

 department at Washington, and the reply was very unsatisfactory, say- 

 ing it was caused by the puncture of some insect, which had been grown 

 over. However, we have noticed it on the German prune, and nearly 

 every fruit, when it arrives at a certain stage, will have these spots under 

 the skin; and if I am not mistaken, it is at times mixed with gum. 



Mr. Haight: It is, that is right. 



