THE I31PE0VEMEyT OF CUE yATIVE PLUM. 339 



plums of a good and uniform size. Indeed they look so near alike 

 that at first sight one would consider them one \-ariety. Thev are 

 not, however, but they have many traits in common. For another 

 instance: we have v\-ithin one mile and a half north of the cit\- an- 

 other group where nearly all the trees bear a yellow plum with a 

 thick and tough skin. 



Xow this shows that although seedlings vary from the parent 

 plants, yet they come true in some respect, and it seems to indicate 

 that by bringing together the right combinations one should be able 

 to develop almost any quality- desired, and this is undoubtedly the 

 case if one has the necessary- patience to study the subject diligently. 



About the first thing to do is to decide what one wants to pro- 

 duce. I think an ideal plvmi should be of good size and of a red 

 color. The skin should be thin and peel readily. The pit shoidd not 

 be too large, and it should be non-adhesive. The meat should be 

 rich and firm and preferably of a greenish yellow hue in order to 

 get the best color when cooked. The harsh, astringent flavor pecu- 

 Uar to the native plum should be wholly absent. 



Xow, we have, to a degree at least, all those qualifications in dif- 

 ferent varieties of the plum. Who can get them all together in one ? 

 How shall it be done ? This is the question. I firmly believe that it 

 can and will be done and that the following way would not be en- 

 tirely wrong: 



(i) Find somewhere a place with good rich soil at a good dis- 

 tance from other pltun trees, tame or wild, and plant there a group 

 of plum trees with the express purpose of growing pits to raise 

 seedlings from. 



(2) In choosing your \-arieties to plant take only the best 

 known and plant one tree or more to represent each one of the 

 qualifications you want the new fruit to possess and take tliose var- 

 ieties which are strong in that one respect. To give quality" you 

 may plant Desoto. Surprise, Bomberger. 



To give color you may plant Brittlewood. Hart. Desoto or any 

 high quaHt}- red. 



To give the free stone you may plant Piper. Wolf. Brittlewood. 



To give skin that peels you may plant Hammer. Paul's Pride, 

 Diana, Brittlewood. 



The Surprise and Brittlewood would seem to possess more good 

 points than any other and should naturally be entitled to a place in 

 the collection. 



\\Tien those trees have been planted they should be given the 

 ver>- best cultivation. We are told that seedlings from cultivated 

 trees are more variable than from others, consequently it is but 

 natural to suppose that the nearer ideal the cultivation is the more 

 should the seedlings xzry. Hence, each hoeing should increase the 

 chances. 



