9U 



JOURNAL OP HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 



[ November 6, 1868. 



which it is to be obtained, a few notes on the cultivation of the 

 tree may be acceptable to those whose locality is less favourable 

 to its growth than that from which I write ; at the same time 

 I am open to correction for any inaccuracy I may fall into with 

 respect to the varieties or other features pointed out. 



The fruit of the Plum in its wild state, like the Crab, is 

 not inviting, but from the habitats of the tree we may gain 

 some useful hints as to the most suitable soil for its growth. 

 The wild Plum tree presents so strong a resemblance to the 

 Damson, that although botanists consider them as belonging 

 to different species, the distinctive features are so linked toge- 

 ther by many intermediate varieties that the line of demar- 

 cation is very difficult to define. The Damson, however, has 

 more of the characteristics of a species, and possibly it may 

 have been less altered by culture than its broader-leaved con- 

 gener. Certain it is that its hardiness is greater than that of 

 any mere garden variety, and equally so the facility with which 

 it naturally increases itself by suckers. Some other varieties of 

 Plums, it is true, likewise produce numerous suckers; for 

 instance, a kind of Green Gage, occasionally met with as an 

 orchard fruit, is not unusually propagated by this means, and 

 the trees so raised are certainly more healthy and show fewer 

 Symptoms of early decay than those worked in the usual way, 

 and possessing, as they do, all the constitutional infirmities 

 of the parent tree of which they formed a part. 



Taking for granted that the cultivated Plum owes its pa- 

 rentage to some of the wild varieties common in our coppices 

 and wastes, it would follow that hardiness must be one of its 

 . qualifications, and this it possesses in a considerable degree. 

 It is to be feared, however, that all, or a great part of all, im- 

 provement is not effected without some sacrifice of constitu- 

 tional vigour or hardiness, and the Plum seems to be no ex- 

 ception to this rule. Other fruits — viz., the Apple, Currant, 

 Gooseberry, and Strawberry, which are occasionally found in a 

 wild state in this country, are also apt to suffer from the vicissi- 

 tudes of the seasons ; but the Plum is, perhaps, the hardiest of 

 all ; yet it has the disadvantage of blooming earlier than the 

 others, and when, consequently, more severe weather may be ex- 

 pected. It is also too often planted in a situation where more 

 delicate fruits would hardly prosper. Nevertheless, the Plum is 

 often a highly productive tree, and even bears good crops without 

 being indebted to the cultivator for any assistance for years 

 after it has once been established. It cannot, however, be denied 

 that it produces more abundantly in some localities than in 

 others, and such being the case, let us take a glance at the con- 

 ditions necessary to insure a favourable result. 



Although the wild Sloe and its broader-leaved relative, to 

 which the Plum is said to owe its origin, are often found in 

 hedge rows in a stiff clayey soil, it is by no means clear that 

 this soil is that most suitable to them ; on the contrary, they 

 may also be found growing on the steep declivities of stony 

 banks, not of the driest class, but such as present a fair amount 

 of moisture without stagnation, and that which is equally im- 

 portant, a soil containing lime and chalk in tolerable abundance. 

 Under such conditions the wild Plum seems to luxuriate, and 

 under such the cultivated kinds also seem to thrive well ; 

 indeed, some of the best Plum orchards are in situations of 

 this kind, on a soil plentifully interspersed with stones, and 

 with a porous substratum which can be penetrated by the roots, 

 the whole partaking more or less of a chalky or limy, but not 

 ferruginous, character. There are, it is true, cases in which 

 the trees do pretty well under conditions the contrary of the 

 above, but I question much if the best of them can equal those 

 growing in positions such as described, due regard being paid 

 to climate and other considerations affecting vegetation of all 

 kinds. The character of those districts whence the largest sup- 

 plies are drawn for the London and other markets may, per- 

 haps, be taken as a sort of criterion, and I believe the soil and 

 position just stated will be found the best. Where there is 

 a choice of aspects on a range of gentle hills or undulations it 

 is thought that one facing the west is the best for the Plum, 

 as being that in which the trees are the least likely to sustain 

 injury from sudden gleams of sunshine after a frosty morning 

 in blooming time ; but they are occasionally planted in all 

 aspects, and often enough on a large breadth of level land. 

 The more common kinds of Damson are frequently planted in 

 positions anything but favourable to the growth of any but 

 the very hardiest and most robust fruit trees, and yet a con- 

 siderable crop is often the result. 



In districts where the Plum is grown as an orchard fruit it 

 is usual to plant it by itself on tillage ground, or rather not to 

 3hk it with Apple, Pear, or Cherry trees. Small bush fruit 



may be grown for a few years, but they are removed when the 

 legitimate occupants attain a size which indicates that all the 

 space is wanted. Standards G feet high are usually planted, and 

 tied up for one or two years, after which they are expected to 

 stand without assistance, and very often when the bush fruits 

 are removed the ground is sown with grass. The trees for some 

 years after planting are looked over in winter, and pruned in 

 a suitable manner to insure the formation of a head of the 

 required shape. In doing this all severe cutting is avoided, 

 but rampant or ill-placed shoots are either cut in or entirely 

 removed ; and when a favourable, dry, sunny autumn occurs, 

 fruit-buds will usually be set in sufficient abundance for a crop 

 in the following year ; if that prove a favourable one, and a 

 crop be secured, there is not much occasion for the knife after- 

 wards, as the tree becomes less vigorous in proportion as it 

 becomes more fruitful, and a dry hot summer has more in- 

 fluence in securing fertility than all the skill of the pruner. As- 

 suming, however, that a plantation of this kind is progressing, 

 nothing can well look richer than it will do at the time the 

 trees are in bloom, and a Plum orchard may be seen many 

 mile3 off, the bloom being white, and more conspicuous at a 

 distance than that of the Apple, and the trees remain longer 

 in bloom than either the Pear or Cherry. Trees of eight or 

 ten years old that have been planted 20 or 21 feet apart are 

 very attractive when in bloom, and perhaps still more so when 

 in fruit if the crop is good, and older trees likewise look well, 

 although it must be confessed that a healthy young specimen 

 has a better appearance, and produces better fruit than an old 

 one, which is not always the case with other fruits. 



As with most natural productions, there are particular dis- 

 tricts noted for Plums ; in Scotland, the valley of the Clyde, 

 and in England, Cheshire are parts of the country where this 

 fruit is extensively grown ; such, too, is the case around London. 

 The counties of Herts and Bucks, I believe, each contribute 

 considerable supplies, and large quantities of Plums are also 

 produced in Kent. The crop of one grower less than a mile 

 from here amounts to from one to two thousand bushels in 

 favourable seasons, and some others grow Plums more exten- 

 sively ; nevertheless, this fruit is not the staple product of the 

 district, and I do not know of any plantation exceeding ten 

 acres within a radius of five miles, but there are plenty of 

 examples of good cultivation, and sufficiently extensive to re- 

 port upon. There also appears to be a disposition to increase 

 the growth of Plums rather than that of Apples and Pears, so it 

 is possible that in a few years the district will be more famous 

 for its Plums than at present. 



I will now offer a few notes on the kinds mostly grown as 

 orchard fruits, and which are the following : — 



Royal Dauphine. A useful Plum ; tree a great bearer, and 

 generally considered hardy. 



Diamond. This, I believe, is not much known elsewhere, it 

 having been raised in the district. Tree a good bearer, and 

 the fruit by no means indifferent for table. 



Prince of Wales. Great bearer. A good market Plum. 

 Orleans. Two varieties, one earlier than the other ; both 

 good, and extensively grown. 



Mogul. Not so popular as it was a dozen years ago, being 

 less certain than some others. 



De la Sue. A good kitchen Plum. The tree attains a good 



size, and several bushels have been gathered from one specimen. 



Magnum Bonum, Yellow and Red, the latter the better 



bearer of the two, but neither so extensively grown as some 



others. 



Reine Claude de Bavay. I believe this is often grown as a 

 Green Gage under a local name. 



Goliath. More frequently grown on walls than on standards, 

 and inferior to the Red Magnum Bonum for that purpose. 

 Early Harvest. A small early Plum. Name local. 

 Green Gage. Several varieties, some questionable as to 

 name, the most healthy-growing trees being seldom of the 

 right sort. 



Golden Drop. Not much grown in this locality. 

 Washington. A fine Plum, deservedly esteemed, but not so 

 good a bearer as some others. 



Victoria. A good bearer ; useful fruit. 

 Pond's Seedling. Not much grown, but promises well. 

 Damsons. One called the Prolific is most in repute ; it is said 

 to be of local origin, and is frequently named after the raiser. 

 It is medium-sized, not so large as the Shropshire Damson, but 

 an excellent bearer. Many trees are planted in hedge rows, or 

 by the sides of plantations in exposed places. 



Besides the above varieties there are others cultivated more 



