280 FLORIDA FRUITS PEACHES AND PLUMS. 



As to the budding of the peach tree, which is the only 

 certain way of obtaining sure results, it should be done in 

 the same manner as has already been described in Chapter 

 IV, pages 42 and 43 ; therefore it is not necessary to repeat 

 them here. Suffice it to say, that when peach buds are in- 

 serted in peach stocks, the latter should be yearlings only, 

 although those two years old will often do well ; our na- 

 tive varieties of wild, rapid-growing plum trees, however, 

 are by many preferred for stock for peach budding. In 

 Bryan County, Ga., is an orchard containing two hun- 

 dred trees thus budded as an experiment, and the results 

 have been extremely gratifying, fine crops of superior 

 fruit being gathered yearly from the trees. 



In conclusion we would add a word of caution to all in- 

 tending to set out peach trees, in particular, not to delay 

 beyond the early part of February at the latest, as the 

 trees take but a short period of rest, growing late and 

 starting early, so that there is but brief time during which 

 it is quite safe to transplant them ; we have, however, seen 

 trees set out in March do well, but it is a greater risk. 



PLUMS. 



The plum tree likes plenty of water, hence moist (but 

 not wet) lands are best adapted to its growth. It does 

 well in sandy soil, but better if there be clay near the 

 surface. 



For years back the plum, like the pear, has been subject 

 to the attacks of a special enemy that has well-nigh ruined 

 the business of their culture as market fruits; with the 

 pear it was the "blight," with the plum an insect, the 

 curculio. 



But just as a new race of pears has been found to resist 

 the "blight," so has there been found, for the South, es- 

 pecially, a new race of plums proof against curculio; these 



