IDEAL PLUM OR PRUNE 105 



at the tips of the branches, these are brought too 

 near the ground. 



The time of flowering should be given careful 

 consideration in connection with the climate 

 where the orchard is to be located. Many fruit 

 trees bloom so early that in mild climates the 

 late spring frosts injure them. In general, late- 

 blossoming trees have an important advantage. 



It should be understood that a tree that 

 blossoms late usually matures its fruit early, 

 whereas one that blossoms early will usually 

 bear late fruit. This is, of course, precisely the 

 reverse of what might be expected, unless we 

 bear in mind the reasons for the difference. A 

 moment's reflection makes it clear that late bear- 

 ing and early fruiting should be correlative, 

 being adaptations to a climate where the summer 

 is brief. 



The bearing season of the plum may be short 

 or long according to the use to which the fruit is 

 to be put. 



Fruit that is to be gathered wholesale for the 

 market should have a short season, the major 

 part of it ripening at the same time. On the 

 other hand, fruit for home use or a local market 

 should have a long season. 



But even more important is the matter of 

 "every year bearing." A tree that never makes 



