THE PLUM. 93 



many places on the North River, the plum has done 

 admirably well many years ; in Charlestown, Mass., 

 fine specimens of the White Gage, Bolmar's Wash- 

 ington, &c., have been exhibited by Mr Johnson for 

 several years ; and in Cambridgeport, near Boston, 

 Mr Pond's plum garden has long been celebrated, 

 and last year, 1838, his show was particularly fine. 

 Newark, N. J., and many other places, might be 

 quoted in the same manner. In Europe the same 

 inference may be drawn as to locality. 



The plum never does well only when grown in its 

 peculiar soil, and in that case it seldom fails, in a 

 warm or moderate climate : The location best 

 adapted to the plum, is that of a low moist place, 

 where there is a depth of rich black earth, and where 

 the roots can always be in a moist situation. In 

 such places the plum tree makes rapid growth for 

 two or three years after planting, and then commences 

 a bearing state, which continues for some years. 

 On this soil, and gravelly or sandy bottom, the tree 

 when planted makes feeble growth, and forms fruit- 

 ing buds, or spurs, on almost all its branches, which 

 bear numbers of fruit, that either drop off when 

 small or ripen with a bad flavor ; the tree is affect- 

 ed with knobby protuberances, containing a worm 

 called the curculio, which is created more by the 

 poverty of the tree than anything else ; the fruit, 

 too, often swells, without forming the stone, into an 

 ill formed yellow fruit, and drops off when in a grow- 

 ing state. The main cause of these, is owing to the 

 roots of the tree being in a situation too dry ; and 

 the flow of sap not being sufficient for the nature of 

 the tree. 



I shall not go through the routine of the propaga- 



