66 THE BOOK OF PEARS AND PLUMS 



These remarks are based on the Report of trials at 

 Chiswick in 1901. 



If one plum only is wanted, choose Victoria, if three, 

 Early Prolific, Victoria and Monarch ; to these Dennis- 

 toun's Superb and Jefferson might be added for dessert 

 if five are desired. 



All these varieties may be planted as Standards, but 

 are better as half-standards or bushes. If as cordons 

 they must be two feet or more apart, and lifted about 

 once in three years. There is no dwarfing plum stock 

 like the paradise for apples or the quince for pears. 



If the dessert varieties are on walls, special attention 

 must be given to pruning and to root-pruning. The 

 growth of coarse thick stems and branches is often fatal 

 to the prospect of good crops. 



PRUNING AND TRAINING 



Plums as a rule do not need nor will they bear as 

 much close pruning as pears and apples. But they 

 need special attention in early life. 



STANDARDS. These must be planted, when other 

 crops are to be grown beneath. Quincunx fashion 

 \-' m is the best. The rows, as a rule, should be 

 24 feet apart, and the trees in each row about 20 feet. 

 Plums do not shade as much as apples and pears, yet 

 it is always wise to avoid overcrowding. Some sorts 

 are not as spreading or as vigorous as others. Weak 

 growers like the Early Prolific might be placed be- 

 tween Jefferson and Monarch. Good trees in six or 

 seven years should bring good returns, but the inter- 

 mediate space may meanwhile be utilised for straw- 

 berries, gooseberries, and so on. Standards should 

 be 6 feet high or more. After planting, cut back the 

 shoots to about one-third of their length, the weakest 

 still more, to promote vigorous growth, and cut just 



