no Commercial Gardening 



by the introduction of new varieties, and many of the old shy-bearing 

 varieties have been displaced by introductions that are good croppers. 

 The increase in the popular use of jam has added another factor to 

 the utility of the Plum. Soils that will grow Apples and Pears will 

 grow Plums. On the lighter warmer soils they will come earlier than 

 on heavy ones; but in dry seasons the latter will bring their fruit to 

 normal size when the former will not. Plums readily show the ad- 

 vantage of leaving the wood uncut when planted. After being pruned 

 during the first winter from planting they will throw up strong shoots 

 that, properly treated, will make a good foundation for the future tree. 

 The shoots require cutting back each year, for four years, to on - third 

 the growth, making the cut just above an outside bud; afterwards they 

 may be allowed to grow, only dead or broken branches and cross pieces 

 that rub against others to be taken out. Some heavy-bearing varieties 

 will prune themselves with broken boughs every third or fourth year. 

 If Plums are planted in alternate rows with Apples or Pears they should 

 be 18 ft. by 15 ft. apart. If planted by themselves, the distance can 

 be decreased to 15 ft. by 12 ft. for some sorts, such as Czar. 



The preparations for planting, and the remarks as to under-cropping 

 made in reference to Apples and Pears, will apply to Plums also. Half- 

 standard is the best style in which to plant Plums. Let not the planter 

 be tempted to buy old trees because they are larger; two years is 

 quite old enough. 



Plum Stocks. There are several stocks (the commonest of which 

 stocks are the "Mussel" and the "Brussel" Plum) upon which Plums are 

 grafted or budded, and experience has shown the nurseryman which 

 stock to use, for some varieties of Plum do best on one stock and some 

 on another; it is therefore desirable to buy from one with a reputation 

 to maintain. 



Plums are very apt to throw suckers from the roots; these should be 

 carefully taken away before they get large, with a suckering iron or 

 mattock, and care must be taken not to injure the roots. It need not 

 be pointed out that suckers, if left to grow, will, as their name implies, 

 suck vitality from the tree. 



The grower will be disappointed to discover that very few, if any, 

 of the market varieties of plums are included in the Royal Horticultural 

 Society list of dessert plums, but it will console him to reflect that it 

 is for him to cater for the multitude, who may be able to appreciate, 

 even for dessert, plums which the fastidious patrons of the Royal Horti- 

 cultural Society would class as cooking plums. The rule seems to be, 

 if a Plum bears with vulgar frequency, class it as a cooker; if in its 

 esoteric superiority it bears but now and then, dignify it with the title 

 of dessert. 



The object of the market grower in selecting his Plums is to get 

 as long a season as possible without getting too many varieties in at 

 the same time; and it goes without saying that he requires sure croppers. 



