238 GARDEN GUIDE 



The following tried and popular varieties will prove a valuable 

 addition to the garden: 



Clapp's Favorite. Large, pale yellow; flesh fine, juicy and buttery. 

 August. 



Bartlett. a very popular variety; large, shapely, melting; luscious 

 flavor. September. 



Seckel. Fruit small but very sweet and melting. One of the best. 



KiEFFER. Large; golden yellow when ripe; juicy, with Quince flavor. 

 October and November. 



Sheldon. Large, russet and red; aromatic flavor; rich and delicious. 

 October and November. 



Beurre d'ANJOu. Large and handsome; flesh melting, extra fine. No- 

 vember. 



Pears should be gathered as soon as the seeds are black, and 

 stored in a dry, airy room until fit for use. 



PLUMS 



No garden is complete without a few Plums, so useful for table 

 and culinary purposes. The Japanese Plums are wonderful bearers, and 

 produce annually large quantities of fruit. Their abundance makes 

 it necessary to thin out the fruit to prevent rotting in clusters on the 

 branches. Plums are not particular as to soil, as their roots spread so 

 much nearer the surface than Apples or Pears, and any fairly good 

 loamy soil that is well drained will produce fine fruit, but cultivating 

 around tne trees is very beneficial. Plant early in the Fall; be liberal 

 with the spade, make large holes, spread the roots out evenly, and 

 plant firmly. 



Plums should not be pruned except for conserving the shape of 

 the trees, particularly the Japanese varieties, which usually grow 

 very strong the first season, and pruning back is a temptation, but if 

 pruned they only produce another strong growth. If left alone 

 they will form fruit buds all along these strong growths and so check 

 excessive vigor. Plums are the earliest fruits to flower, and a shel- 

 tered position should be given them, or plant them on a northern 

 exposure where the buds will be retarded until danger of freezing is 

 past. Spraying to be eff'ective, should be done very early, and again 

 as soon as the blossoms fall, because the fruit is eaten without removing 

 the skin. Plums intended for the table should be allowed to ripen 

 fully on the tree, but for preserving and culinary purposes they may 

 be gathered earlier. Should Plums insist on making a strong, rank 

 growth, the best remedy is root pruning. Lift the trees in the Fall 

 and shorten back all strong roots, keeping the roots exposed as 

 short a time as is possible to complete the work. 



