Deosmbor 23, 1876. ] 



JODENAL OF HOETICULTUKE AND COITAGE GARDENER. 



5i'J 



metrical speoimen would be the exception rather than the rale. 

 Most gladly, therefore, do I record resulta totally opposed to 

 this erroneous idea of mine. Tho difficulty, it it occurs at 

 all, does so at the beginning ; aud whoncvor a want of balance, 

 arising from a weakly growth in the lower branches and exces- 

 sive vigour in those near tho top, is perceptible, it is invariably 

 owing to a bad start, or, in plainer word?, to the mismauege- 

 meut of the tree in the earlier stages of its growth. A want 

 of decision at the time of planting often leads to failure. Ar- 

 bitrary rules have a mischievous tendency when applied indis- 

 crisninRtely, but in this instance it should be insisted upon 

 that when a young Plum tree is not well furnished with strong 

 branches at its base at tho time of planting, its top must be 

 Baciificed and the stem reduced to a length of 18 iuches. Then, 

 if the planting is well done, shoots will break forth during tha 

 first season of growth, and disposed in a manner to form a 

 perfect tree. Thus do we lay the foundation and insure the 

 success of our work ; the central stem rises above its youthful 

 rivals, putting forth other branches, tier above tier, till the 

 structure is complete — a perfect cone. The formation from 

 lateral growths of spurs clustering with fruit buds goes briskly 

 forward, and a few brief seasons bring to the work its full 

 reward in that bsst of all forms a full crop of fruit. Apart 

 from this, the tree is really a reward in itself — a certificate of 

 merit of no mean order — a symmetrical form that is always 

 a pleasant sight, exemplifying economy of space with the 

 maintenance of a just balance in every part. 



Moat kinds of Plum trees are so distinct in habit of growth 

 aud general appearance as to be easily recognised. I have 

 closely observed these peculiarities, and will note a few of them 

 in the following estimate of Eorts. 



Green Gage. — Of all Plums tho Gages most worthily stand 

 first, and our old friend the Green Gage is such a general 

 favourite that it might not inaptly be quoted as formiug an 

 the common diversity of taste. It fgood qualities exception to 

 are admitted by all. Some flourishing young pyramidal trees 

 which came nicely into beariug this year have a clean, regular, 

 free growth, somewhat slight, spreading with a gentle curve 

 upwards. The fruit of this variety is, however, greatly improved 

 with the age of tho trees, of which I will quote an example on 

 a future occasion. 



Purple Gaoe. — A pair of fine symmetrical trees of this valu- 

 able variety have a more sturdy erect growth and more com- 

 pact habit than the Green Gage. The branches are also more 

 thickly set with spurs. The fruit has the full rich flavour of 

 the green variety, is of similar form, aud of au attractive 

 mottled purple hue. It hangs well upon the tree, and may be 

 kept in the fruit-room for some wesks in its slightly shrivelled 

 condition with little loss of flavour, thus forming a most ser- 

 viceable adjunct to the dessert in autumn. 



Brijanston Gage. — These are strong vigorous trees, having a 

 peculiar erect growth with very numerous spurs, having a close 

 resemblance in general outline to Oiillins Golden. The fruit, 

 which is produced in great abundance, is very large — much 

 larger than tho old kind, greenish yellow in colour, and ot 

 most delicious flavour. An excellent Plum which all should 

 grow. 



Transparent Gage. — This is another of the large type of 

 Gages. The fruit is pale yellow, tinged and mottled with red 

 on the side exposed to tho sun. It was ripe this season iu the 

 second week of September, and is so delicious that it has bsen 

 termed " superior to all other Plums." Certainly its excelleDce 

 iu this respect is so great that it must satitfy the most fasti- 

 dious palate. I have it trained to a wall and also in an 

 orchard. The growth is strong and free, but the trees are 

 hardly large enough to enable one to judge clearly of peculiar- 

 ities of habit. Mr. Rivers says that this variety and Beine 

 Claude Boddaert are the finest of the Gages. This last kind 

 and M'Laughlin's Gage I planted last season, but they have 

 not yet fruited. 



Joiloigne Green Gage. — This variety has disappointed me. 

 It is wonderfully prohfio, and the fruit is handsome, of good 

 form, and with so much blue colour upon tho exposed side 

 that its title of "green" strikes one as a misnomer; but it 

 has so little flavour as to be positively insipid. I have either a 

 spurious kind, or tho assertion that it is equal in flavour to 

 the old Green Gage is a mistaken one. A couple of pyramids 

 which I have in cultivation under this name have a thin 

 spreading growth, imparting a loose aud somewhat ragged ap- 

 pearance to the trees, which are, notwithstanding, tolerably 

 symmetrical. 



Oullins Golden. — This has a very stout, vigorous, yet 



compact habit of growth, well set with spurs, not at all 

 spreading, but remarkable for tho singular manner in which 

 every branch springs directly upwards from the stem at au 

 acute angle. It is probably owiug to its excessive vigour tha 

 young trees are so much behind other sorts in producing fruit. 

 The fruit is very beautiful, very similar iu appearance to tho 

 Washington, a rich yellow tinged with crimson on the sunned 

 side. A fine fruit of sweet and pleasant flavour, ripening 

 early iu August, but which may sometimes be seen in good 

 condition as late as the first week iu September. 



Royal Hulive.—l have heard this termed a good desser 

 Plum, but I have not found those which I have tasted at all 

 equal to my standard. The trees are very handsome, with a 

 distinct spreading habit, and a free growth of medium strength. 



Kirke's. — The trees of this kind are of good form, and have 

 a tolerably vigorous spreading growth, well furnished with 

 spurs. My note of it in the fruit book for this year states 

 that the fruit is large and slightly oval iu form ; colour deep 

 purple, almost black, with a fine bluish bloom, sweet and 

 jaiey, but more valuable for cooking than for the dessert. 

 Good crop. Trees vigorous. 



Belgian Purple. — A tree of good form, with a free strong 

 growth well set with spurs. It is a prolific sort, with dark 

 purple medium-sized fruit, mottled with red and having an 

 attractive bluish bloom. It is very juicy and rich in flavour, 

 aud is said to be ripe by the middle of August, but it was not 

 ripe this season till the first wetk in September. 



Late Rivers. — This kind surpasses all others iu the vigour 

 of its growth, quickly forming a large spreading tree. It is 

 very prolific, and its sweet juicy fruit is highly valued for its 

 lateness. 



Blue Imperatrice is one of our most valuable late autumn 

 Plums. Tiained to anorth wall its oval-shaped richly-flavouied 

 fruit may be had in perfection very late, for it hangs a loug 

 timj upon the tree. I liko to plant it on a northern aspect 

 with the Morello Cherry, both fruits being of the greatest 

 valuo for the splendid supply which they afford throughout 

 October. 



Early Mirers. — A culinary Plum of great value, ripeniDg 

 early in July. Its tolerably large, oval, purple fruit is very sweet 

 and juicy, and is produced in great profusion. Tho trees are 

 very handsome and vigorous, with a frio, strong, and erect 

 habit of growth. Quite distiuct from other kinds. 



Prince Englehert. — Both tho trees aud the fruit which they 

 bear are vtry distinct, tho trees being remarkable for the 

 sturdy proportions which they so quickly assume, aud their 

 close erect habit of growth. The splendid oval-shaped fruit 

 is very large, of a deep purple colour with au attractive bluish 

 bloom, and, what is more important, it is most valuabla for all 

 purposes of cookicg and preserving. 



Denyer's Victoria. — The growth of this deservedly popukr 

 sort has a spreading yet upward tendency, forming vigorous 

 trcfs of symmetrical outline. It is very prolific, and the fruit 

 makes a delicious preserve, and is one of our best cookiag 

 fruits. Red in colour, oval in form, aud very sweet and juicy. 



Lafayette. — This is a late September kind, forming hand- 

 some trees, is very prolific, and is so sweet and juicy as to be 

 valuable Loth for dessert and cooking. A most useful sort, 

 cropping well this year. 



Mivers's Early Damson. — This forms a neat, compact, and 

 well-shaped tree, the tolerably free growth beiug well furnished 

 with spurs. It is very prolific, end is most valuable from the 

 fact of its sweet aud juicy iruit ripening so early in August. 



Cluster Damson. — Doubtless so called from its extraordinwy 

 fertility, tho branches being literally clothed with fruit in such 

 dense clusters as to render the process uf picking a somewhat 

 tedious business. The growth is stout, vigorous, thickly set 

 with spurs, interspersed with a few thorns in its young state ; 

 tree somewhat spreading aud irregular in habit, and with 

 dark-coloured bark. This kind and Early Rivera are thoso 

 which I can recommend for giving au abundant early and lata 

 supply of fruit. Preference is frequently given to the Shrop- 

 shire Damson for preserving, for which reason I have planted 

 a dozen of it. They are forming pretty compact little pyra- 

 mids, but there is a slender delicate habit about them that is 

 in striking contrast to tho sturdy vigour of the Cluster. 



In giving these estimates of iruit iu detail my object is not 

 only to show which, iu my opinion, are the bsst kinds, but to 

 describe each kind sufficiently to enable others to gain toler- 

 ably correct ideas to guide them ia purchasing aud plantiug, 

 for it should never be forgotten how widely different are indi- 

 vidual tastes. What Brown likes Jones detests ; the object of 



