VARIETIES OF PLUMS 1169 



well, and are susceptible to diseases and suffer from dry or hot 

 weather. In locations to which it is suited, however, this prune 

 must long remain one of the leading plums. 



LOMBABD 



Of all plums, Ixmibard adapts itself most widely to soils and 

 climates; the trees are robust, healthy, productive, and regular in 

 hearing; their fruits are comparatively free from plum curculio; 

 lastly, the plums are showy, and therefore readily salable. The 

 tree characters of Lombard are all good. The variety would be 

 preeminently the plum for the millions, were it not for a fatal 

 fault it is very poor in quality. Canned, cooked, or spiced it 

 docs very well, but as a dessert fruit it is all but worthless. 

 Lombard is now much used in the canneries of New York and is 

 also planted largely in home orchards where only hardy plums 

 will stand the climate. In the markets it is usually a low-priced 

 plum. 



MONARCH 



The nicely turned form and the rich purple color of Monarch 

 make this a most handsome fruit. While the quality is not of 

 the best, yet the variety ranks high among the purple plums for 

 dessert, few plums of this color being especially palatable to eat 

 out of hand. The variety is not remarkable for any of its tree 

 characters yet averages well with other plums and, with those of 

 the fruit, make a variety above the average and give it a place 

 among the best sorts for New York. 



POND 



Pond is preeminent among plums for its large size. It is dis- 

 tinguished also by its form and its color, both being pleasing as 

 well as distinctive. At one time Pond was very largely grown 

 in -\ew York, but the fruits are not so perfect grown here as on 

 the- Pacific Coast, and the trees are not regular in bearing. The 

 eye is pleased with the Pond, but the palate is sadly disappointed ; 

 at its best it is not even second-rate. The fruits, however, ship 

 aii'l keep well, and it is the leading red plum found in our markets. 

 It is doubtful, however, whether its culture ought to be recom- 

 mended on a large scale in New York since it comes in such quan- 

 tities from the Pacific Coast. 



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