THE 



Canadian Horticuuurist 



JULY, 1903 



Volume XXVI 



Number 7 



CHABOT 



IT is only about twenty years since the 

 Japan plums began to be propagated 

 in America for commercial purposes, 

 and it wonderful how quickly they have be- 

 come distributed throughout the United 

 States and Canada, while still almost un- 

 known in Europe. Perhaps this is because 

 the European varieties succeed so well there 

 that the Japan varieties are not sought after 

 in that country, while here the former class 

 are subject to many drawbacks, such as 

 black knot, plum rot, etc., from which the 

 Japan varieties are apparently more or less 

 exempt. 



The'Chabot first fruited at Maplehurst '.n 

 1902, and at once attracted our attention as 

 being exceptionally beautiful in appearance 

 and delicious for eating. It was imported 

 from Japan by Air. Chabot, of Berkeley. 

 California, and afterward sold to Mr. Bur- 

 bank, who introduced it to the trade in the 

 year 1886. It has borne several names, as 

 for example, Yellow Japan, Bailey, etc., but 

 in justice to the importer, it is now generally 

 known as the Chabot. A good many are 

 puzzled over the pronunciation, so we may 

 as well state that the accent is upon the last 

 syllable, phonetically written it is " Shab- 

 bot." 



This plum has been tested at our Geor- 



gian Bay station by Mr. John ]\Iitchell, of 

 Clarksburg, and described by him as fol- 

 lows : 



" A very strong grower, of a large beau- 

 tiful and stately top ; bears the third year ; 

 fruit about the same size and shape as Red 

 June, but not quite so conical ; skin amber, 

 and nearly covered with red spots and mark- 

 ings ; very attractive ; season late in Septem- 

 ber ; very hardy." 



At Maplehurst our record of its season h 

 the first half of September, but perhaps it 

 would be ten days later at Clarksburg. It 

 did not bear the third year after planting 

 with us, indeed it was about the fifth year 

 before we had any samples. No doubt 

 early bearing depends a good deal upon the 

 soil ; and our deep rich sandy loam encour- 

 ages the production of too much wood and 

 too little fruit. In respect to size also, ''t 

 was larger with us than Red June, indeed, 

 almost equal to Washington ; but wdth us 

 the crop was light, while with Mr. Mitchell 

 probably it was heavy. 



Everyone who has fruited it gives the 

 Chabot credit for being the best Japan of 'ts 

 season, which is about two weeks later than 

 Burbank. The flesh is yellow, and the fla- 

 vor very pleasant, though inclined to cling 

 to the stone. 



