'MO Journal op the Department of Agriculture. 



the exclusion of all others. Generally speaking the Japanese plums 

 are lemarkable for their diversity in habit of <;iowth ; varieties such 

 as Wickson, Kelsey, Santa Rosa, are vigorous upright growers and 

 respond to annual pruning by developing into shapely trees ; others, 

 like Burbank Apple, are straggly growers and require special care to 

 make strong compact trees; Botan, Red Nagate, and several others 

 adopt a bushy habit and often require heavy pruning in some parts 

 and light pruning in others. Owing to their rapid growth as a whole 

 it is essential that the trees be started on correct lines from the time 

 of planting. A short stem with a low head is the best form for the 

 plum, as it enables the grower to keep the head of the tree open, thus 

 minimizing the risk of creating too much delisity. The foliage is 

 always very dense, so that when leaders become too numerous, pre- 

 venting free access of light to the centre of the tree, plenty of barren 

 and dead wood can be looked for. The lines suggested for building 

 the frame of the apricot or peach are applicable to the Japanese plum 

 — a good foundation must be obtained to withstand the strain and 

 weight of fruit produced by these trees. About three and a half 

 3-ears after planting a ■small crop may be expected. The fruit is borne 

 on spurs which are freely produced on the main branches and laterals 

 older than one year; the new wood is also very productive and should 

 be encouraged wherever possible without crowding, as spurs tend to 

 arrest the vigour of the trees and restrict the yield as the trees get 

 older. The leaders are annually reduced in number to retain the 

 shape of the tree and permit light to act on the central bearing wood. 

 The selected leaders should be cut back according to their strength 

 and the needs of the tree ; it is clearly a local matter for each pruner 

 to decide. The laterals are shortened back to about eight inches if 

 strong enough to carry fruit ; any growths imder six inches should 

 l)e left uncut. 



A word of warning is needed about keeping the plum tree open. 

 When pruning', to open the top, it is not meant that all side growths 

 are to be removed, otherwise the o])ject sought for would be defeated 

 and branches subjected to sun-scald. Japanese plums should be 

 furnished with fruiting wood from the point where the branches leave 

 the stem to the tip of the leader, and only annual shortening in is 

 required to promote vigour, or a little thinning out of growth if too 

 crowded. 



Fig. 22 is a Japanese plum, " Satsuma," showing fruiting wood 

 throughout the entire framework of the tree. 



The domestic or European plum requires slightly different treat- 

 ment. It cannot be said that this type of plum has given general, 

 satisfaction, still there are isolated parts where pf^rticular varieties 

 have done well and are cultivated for reasons of association. The 

 fruit is borne on spurs developed on wood two years old and older, 

 and where hard cutting back of lateral growth is practised the 

 tendency _ is to pi'omote excessive growtli and produce little fruit. 

 Fig. 23 is a tree of Prune d'Agen showing long laterals with good 

 spur, development. It will be seen that the tree forms a perfect 

 goblet ; this allows of an even distribution of weight as well as per- 

 mitting the fruit-bearing wood inside the tree to thoroughly mature. 



The freedom with which laterals are produced throughout the 

 tree calls for special attention to spacing and strengthening of the 



