332 Plums and Plum Culture 



heat reflected from the soil. Everyone knows that 

 the reflection is much less from newly-turned, well- 

 pulverized, loose-lying soil, than from hard, smooth, 

 compacted earth. Moreover, good cultivation keeps 

 up a thrifty growth in the trees, and enables them to 

 resist the effects of the sun much better. It may be 

 noted in any orchard that the unthrifty, half-dead trees 

 show the first and worst cases of sunscald. 



After a tree is once sunscalded there is always 

 considerable difficulty in remedying the damage. In 

 extreme cases the shortest, simplest and best procedure 

 is to cut the tree down and replace it with a new one. 

 Trees badly scalded should not be sacrificed, however, 

 until it appears clearly that their usefulness is at an 

 end. Scalded trees often continue to bear good crops 

 for several years, and, at worst, the scald is not con- 

 tagious. Trees which are only slightly damaged can 

 usually be reclaimed. The best method is as follows: 

 Clean away first all scaly, dead bark, and remove all 

 lichens and insects. Then apply grafting wax or some 

 suitable protective and antiseptic material. Lastly, 

 give whatever protection may be necessary from fur- 

 ther sun damage. This may consist in placing a board 

 shield in place, tying on papers, or in the adoption of 

 such other expedient as may seem most feasible to the 

 practical orchardist. 



Gummosis. — Every man who grows stone fruits, 

 peaches, cherries or plums, has often marked with in- 

 terest, usually with dou£t, and sometimes with sorrow, 

 the accumulations of gum on the trunks and branches. 

 This gum at first appears whitish and clear, almost 

 transparent. After a time it becomes discolored, 

 darker. It may accumulate in large quantities at cer- 

 tain points, as at a crotch partly split by the wind. 

 Usually it is in comparatively small patches and 

 nodules here and there through the tree. It is most 



