ao 



TO CURE THE PLUM TREE KNOTS. 



Fig. l.—The Red Diaper Plum, 



Gage, (a scarce sort,) and the Purple Fa- 

 vorite, it will be seen that we place it in 

 the same rank as those highest standard 

 varieties, — the Green Gage and the Jeffer- 

 son. It is impossible to say more in its 

 praise in this respect ; but we may add 

 that the flesh is melting, juicy, rich and 

 delicious. 



Like the Green Gage and Purple Fa^ 

 vorite, the trees of this variety are rather 

 slow growing in the nursery, though they 

 are thrifty and hardy when planted out in 

 the orchard or fruit garden. The leaves 

 are rather small and oval, and the young 

 shoots nearly smooth, or, more properly, 

 semi-downy. In growth and foliage there 

 is a marked resemblance between the Pur- 

 ple Favorite and the Red Diaper, though 

 the fruit is distinct. 



The Red Diaper is a good bearer, and 

 the fruit usually hangs well upon the tree, 

 being little liable to rot. It is easily dis- 

 tinguished from most purple plums by its 

 uniform brownish-red colour, which, when 

 the fruit ripens in the shade, predominates 

 over the purple. The bloom is very thin, 

 and of a pale blue. The stalk is rather 

 slender, and slightly hairy. The fruit, 

 which is a freestone, is at maturity about 

 the end of August. We cannot recom- 

 mend to those collectors of really choice 

 fruits, who do not already possess this va- 

 riety, any one more worthy of attention 

 than the Red Diaper Plum. 



TO CURE THE .PLUM TREE KNOTS. 



BY C. REAGLES, SCHENECTADY, N. Y. 



Dear Sir — As the question of the Black 

 Knat Excrescence has not yet been defi- 

 nitely settled, and as the subject — which I 

 am sure is an interesting one to all cultiva- 

 tors of the plum — has been little alluded to 

 of late, I have concluded to give you a 

 brief statement of my experience upon the 

 matter ; having extensively cultivated the 

 fruit, for the last fifteen years, with great 

 success. 



It is generally supposed that the knots, 

 or swellings, are caused by the attacks of 

 an insect, and the idea of the curculio being 

 that insect has been pretty well dissemi- 

 nated. My own experience, however, goes 

 to prove that the idea is far from being a 

 correct one, as there really is no evidence 

 to substantiate it. This is, as you know, 

 a celebrated plum district. The trees are 

 generally loaded with fruit every year, and 



