46 STATE POMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 



that the trees often show fruit the fourth year, and if, in our 

 northern climate, we can at four years produce a barrel of fruit,, 

 and at the fifth year produce two barrels of fruit, we will enjoy 

 that which the western fruit-growers are enjoying. 



Now a few words concerning the other kinds of fruits. Plum 

 growing at the East is of importance. The plum is looked upon 

 as a great luxury, and there is no portion of this country where 

 plums are so largely consumed as in the New England States. 

 We in New York depend upon New England as the market for 

 our plums. We recognize the fact that when New England 

 industries are prospering, and when New England mills are 

 running full time, there is no limit to the consumption of plums. 

 So we make a specialty of prune culture. During this year I 

 am putting out something like 500 trees and expect to work 

 them upon this same principle. This is an exceedingly valuable 

 fruit. 



The German prune is of high quality, but is of slow growth, 

 and it takes many years for it to come to bearing. The French 

 prune, when grown in California, is of high quality, but it has 

 been supposed we could not grow this prune in New England. 

 It is, however, being grown in New York State. California is 

 shipping hundreds of carloads of prunes to the English markets, 

 and if we compete in those markets we rnust bring our trees into 

 the earliest possible bearing. If you wish to do this choose a 

 quick-growing tree like the Lombard plum for stock. Use the 

 vigor and strength and the rapid growing habit of the Lombard 

 tree to push forward the rapid development of the prune. I 

 have no doubt in my own mind, that the trees being planted 

 to-day on my own farm will come into bearing in three years. 

 This is our method : We take, for instance, the Lombard plum 

 tree and plant it this fall ; or in the spring, where spring plant- 

 ing is more desirable. Next July or August, begin the process 

 of budding. Now the following spring, if the conditions are 

 right, simply cut away the balance of the Lombard wood and 

 you have that tree changed at once into the variety which is so 

 desirable. You also have the hardness, the strength, vigor and 

 vitality of this Lombard plum tree to drive the buds ahead 

 rapidly. I believe the development will be so rapid that the time 

 of getting them into bearing will be reduced three-fourths. 



