278 .The Canadian Horticulturist. 



land. Give a liberal covering of rich manure before winter sets in, and in the 

 spring work this in with a fork or harrow. A week or so before the shoots 

 appear, sow a a good fertilizer at the rate of 600 lbs. per acre, and clear out the 

 weeds. 



Asparagus is a great feeder, and will amply repay liberal manuring. This 

 with care to prevent seedlings from getting a foothold and encouraging only 

 strong shoots, are the requisites to produce the delicious asparagus. — Populai 

 Gardening. 



THE JAPANESE PLUMS. 



Prof. Bailey, in Cornell Station Bulletin 62, classifies these plums as follows : 

 Yellotv-ski7i7ied — Georgeson, Normand, Kerr, and Ogon. Red-skinned — Abun- 

 dance, Berckmans, Burbank, Kelsey, Long Fruit, Munson, Perfection, Straw- 

 berry, Babe )ck, Bailey, Berger, Chabot, Maru, Orient, Red Nagate, Willard and 

 Yosebe. Red-flesh — Delaware, Heikes, Satsuma, Hale, Late Blood, and Uchi- 

 Beni. 



We select also the following from his notes concerning these plums : 



The varieties now known to be hardy in the plum regions of New York are 

 Burbank, Abundance, Willard, Ogon, Satsuma, Chabot, Yosebe, and Berger ; 

 and others give promise of being as hardy as these. 



The period of ripening of the various kinds extends over a long season, 

 running, in New York, from the middle of July to the middle of September. 

 The same variety does not always appear to ripen at the same period in succes- 

 sive years. This is especially true of the Kelsey, which sometimes varies through 

 a period of three months. In New York, the earliest market variety which nas 

 been tested appears to be Willard, followed closely by Ogon, then Abundance 

 cind Berckmans, and Burbank still later. Kelsey is generally the latest of all 

 the varieties. 



Most of the Japanese plums keep for several days, and some of them even 

 for two weeks, after they are ripe. Satsuma is one of the best keepers known 

 jn the north. 



The larger part of the varieties are red with deep yellow flesh, and the 

 Satsuma and a few varieties less known, have deep red flesh. There are only 

 four well-known yellow varieties. There are eight freestones, as follows: Ogon, 

 Willard, Kelsey, Berger, Maru, Munson, Normand, Yosebe. 



The varieties which can be most confidently recommended at the present 

 time are, Abundance, Burbank, Willard, Kerr, Berckmans, Maru, Red Nagate, 

 Chabot, Satsuma, and perhaps Ogon. Kelsey is recommended for the South. 



The chief weaknesses of the Japanese plums are too early bloom of some 

 varieties and liability to the fruit-rot fungus. Amongst their advantages are 

 partial immunity from black knot and leaf blight, and often a partial freedom 

 from curculio injury. 



