Orchard and Garden Management 267 



The plum is also a garden tree, and peculiarly 

 suited to the small home fruit garden, either on the 

 city lot or in the farmyard. Plum trees in the garden, 

 however, demand precisely the same treatment that 

 they do in large orchards. The following discussion 

 applies equally to the two series of conditions. 



Soils. — Plums will not grow on solid rock, but 

 they will succeed on any kind of soil. Professor Bailey 

 has remarked that, next to the apple, the European 

 plum, Primus domestica, has probably the most gen- 

 eralized adaptability to all sorts of soils of any known 

 tree. Then when we take into account the Japanese 

 plums and all the various American species with their 

 wide diversities of adaptation, we have a selection of 

 plants to cover the whole range of soils. 



The Domestica and Damson plums are generally 

 said to grow best on rather heavy clay loam ; at least 

 they do not do their best on light, sandy soils. A 

 heavy clay loam need not be wet and cold; and if it 

 is well drained and comparatively warm, it forms an 

 ideal soil for the European races of plums. 



The Japanese plums prefer rather lighter soils. 

 A light, warm, friable loam, with a moderate admixture 

 of sand, suits them best. They will do well, how- 

 ever, on soil which is decidedly sandy. 



The Americana plums need about the same soil 

 as the Domesticas. A rich, heavy loam is much the 

 best for them, though a moderate amount of sand 

 does not interfere with their thrifty growth in favor- 

 able climates. 



Varieties of the Miner group have the same needs 

 as the Americanas. 



Wayland and its near relatives prefer lighter soils. 

 They thrive in Mr. Kerr's Maryland sand pile, but gen- 

 erally do better in soils containing more clay. A light, 

 warm, sandy loam may be regarded as their preference. 



