THE PLUM IN KANSAS. 31 



nearly covered with scarlet, and of good quality. Later, hardier and less inclined 

 to rot than Burbank. 



Bailey. — Appears to be much like Chabot, but, as we have it, it seems to be 

 much hardier. 



Gold. — A prolific and early bearer; fruit a clear yellow, partly overspread with 

 red; medium to large, but not of first-rate quality. 



Lincoln. — Fruit large to very large, coppery red, and of good quality. Valu- 

 able for home use or market but slow in growth, and should be worked on some 

 other variety. 



Red June. — One of the hardiest and best of the Japanese sorts. Especially 

 valuable because of earliness. 



Abundance. — Tree upright in growth and prolific; fruit medium to large, and 

 of excellent quality. Desirable. 



Burbank. — Tree a vigorous grower, very prolific, and begins bearing when 

 very young. Fruit medium to large, showy, and of good quality, but much in- 

 clined to rot. 



Gueii. — A reliable dark purple variety. Although much inclined to rot, it 

 should be included in the list of profitable orchard sorts. 



Moore's Arctic. — Rather too small for market, but the fact that it is hardier 

 than most other varieties of its class makes it valuable. 



VALUE OF JAPAN PLUMS. — HARDINESS COMPARED WITH PEACHES. 



They stand the cold. — I am growing Japan plums in orchards quite exten- 

 sively in Connecticut and Georgia, and am convinced that many of the varieties 

 have points of merit that will make them permanently valuable orchard fruits 

 in these sections, but in the central Atlantic states, say from Philadelphia to 

 South Carolina, they bloom so early that they are often liable to be caught by 

 spring frosts. At the North they will stand a great deal more freezing than 

 peaches. I think it is safe to plant them anywhere where the mercury does not 

 go much below twenty-five degrees below zero. In my orchards in Connecticut, 

 at this time, peach buds, even on the most hardy varieties, are all killed, and 

 while the plum buds are somewhat hurt, there are more than enough left for 

 abundant crops; probably very severe thinning will have to be resorted to to 

 sficure full-sized fruit. 



In the South. — In Georgia, the middle of February, after weeks of warm 

 weather, many of the plums coming out in bloom and peach trees just showing 

 the pink, peach buds entirely killed and trees badly injured, yet enough buds 

 were left alive on some of the varieties of Japan plums so that there will be quite 

 a little crop of fruit. For two or three years, varieties like Red June, Abundance 

 and Burbank have been shipped to the Northern markets from Georgia, and sold 

 on an average twenty-five per cent, higher than peaches, with an increasing de- 

 mand each year for the fruit. In New England they have been marketed for 

 the last three years to a considerable extent, having sold fifty per cent, higher 

 than peaches in the same markets — the demand always ahead of the supply. 

 They have thick, tough skins, and are not seriously injured by the curculio. 

 Trees will thrive on very light, thin soil, or on that quite heavy and moist. The 

 quality of the fruit is good, and they can be kept in the market from one to two 

 weeks after being picked from the tree, in fair eating condition. 



The best sorts. — Red June, Abundance and Burbank are the most satisfac- 

 tory of the well-tested varieties. Satsuma needs more maturity of tree before 

 coming into full bearing; for, while the first three named will fruit freely two or 

 three years after planting, Satsuma requires about five. Of the newer sorts 

 Wickson is the largest and most attractive in appearance, while the Hale is best 



