THE RED DIAPER PLUM. 



29 



leaves. If left in undisturbed possession, 

 it devours the foliage almost as rapidly 

 as the caterpillar. War must, in conse- 

 quence, be declared against this slug imme- 

 diately. 



I am very much gratified, at the same 

 time that I describe the new marauders, to 

 be able also to say what sort of a dose they 

 require to send them to the undertakers. 

 By a little experiment, I have found that 

 tobacco water is the best poison for them 

 both, putting thrip and slug alike out of 

 the way as soon as it reaches them. 



The best mode of applying it is with a 

 small syringe having a rose like a watermg 

 pot, or a small hand engine, such as is de- 

 scribed in your last number. With this, 

 and a pail of tobacco water at hand, a man 

 can in a few moments thoroughly sprinkle 

 the foliage of a large vine; always taking 

 a stand so as to throw the shower on the 

 under part of the leaves. 



I find that strong soap-suds, applied in 

 the same way, will kill the slug but not 

 the thrip. It is best, therefore, when both 



insects are found together, to use the to- 

 bacco water, which quickly sickens and 

 kills almost every insect. In fact, so use- 

 ful is this latter stuff, that a garden should 

 never be without it in the growing season. 

 A quart of it, and two minutes' labor to 

 apply it, will sometimes prevent the gene- 

 ration of a great brood of insects that days 

 only will subdue. In the towns, the tobac- 

 conists always have a supply on hand ; 

 and, at any rate, tobacco stalks can be 

 procured and boiled in water till a strong 

 decoction is made. As both the tobacco 

 water of the manufacturers and decoctions 

 made at home vary in strength, it is always 

 best, before applying it largely, to make 

 the experiment by mixing it with water, 

 and applying it to a few leaves^ — two or 

 three dilutions. That mixture which is 

 only just strong enough to kill the insects 

 is the best. To use tobacco water stronger 

 than this is only throwing away your ammu- 

 nition, and might check or injure the 

 growth of the vine. Your truly. C. 



New-York, June 16, 1848. 



THE RED DIAPER PLUM. 



We find this valuable plum so little dis- 

 seminated throughout the country gene- 

 rally, compared with many inferior varie- 

 ties, like the Orleans, Purple Magnum 

 Bonum, etc., that we are induced again to 

 speak of its excellence. 



This variety was received by us from 

 England, under the name of the Mimms 

 plum. The London Horticultural Society 

 have, however, stated that the Mimms is 

 synonymous with a French A'ariety, previ- 

 ously known on the continent as the Dia- 

 pree Rouge, or Hed Diaper ; and the Eng- 

 lish title has, accordingly, given place to 

 that by which it was first called. As we 



are not aware that the Diapree Rouge of 

 the continental nurseries, (which is scarcely 

 considered a first rate variety,) has been 

 proved in this country, we are for the pre- 

 sent obliged to follow the authority of the 

 London Society in the standard name 

 adopted. 



The variety before us has fruited here 

 for several years past, and we do not hesi- 

 tate to place it among the half dozen 

 finest flavored plums known here, — a dis- 

 trict where the plum flourishes well, and is 

 very extensively cultivated. When we say, 

 that, in point of flavor, it is not equalled by 

 any purple plums, except the {true) Purple 



