268 Plums and Plum Culture 



Wildgoose and the varieties of closest relationship 

 have a wide range of adaptability to differing soils, 

 but may be regarded as most at home on rich, sandy 

 lowlands. Cold, heavy clay is distasteful to them. In 

 general they do not reach perfection in those localities 

 where the European A r arieties are most successful. 



The Chicasaws have much the same preferences 

 as the Wildgoose varieties. They are said to do well 

 on low, wet land, where they are subject to annual 

 overflows, but I do not know of anyone who has tested 

 this point in orchard planting. 



The hybrid varieties, which will probably be of 

 increasing importance, must be treated in view of 

 their individual affinities. Those which partake most 

 of the Japanese characters may be managed like the 

 Japanese plums; and those which are more Wild- 

 goose-like should have the treatment of the Wild- 

 goose plums. 



Exposures. — All other conditions being satisfac- 

 tory, the plum orchard should have a southeastern ex- 

 posure, — that is, the field may slope more or less 

 toward the southeast. A southwestern exposure is 

 not desirable except on cold, backward soils. If late 

 frosts are a source of danger, a northeastern or north- 

 western exposure may be better, as these will retard 

 the blossoming more or less in the spring. The Jap- 

 anese varieties, being specially early bloomers, require 

 most consideration in this respect. Still, my observa- 

 tion leads me to believe that the danger from late 

 spring frosts is not so great a factor in plum culture as 

 it is often felt to be. 



Drainage. — Plum trees respond as quickly as any 

 other plants to an improved mechanical condition of 

 the soil. Any soil, therefore, which will be improved 

 by drainage, — and there are thousands of acres of such 

 soil, — should be drained for plum trees. The fact 



