^ STATE POMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 



ripened specimen of Lomard, Abundance, Lincoln or McLaugh- 

 lin plum. 



Perhaps a few words might be said with reference to a choice 

 of varieties. Do not set too many varieties. Ten kinds are 

 enough for a commercial orchard. In choosing have reference 

 to season. Early, medium, and late and as far as possible select 

 kinds which succeed in your own section. If you have room for 

 only one tree let it be a Lombard. I suppose it is not necessary 

 to extol the merits of this well known variety, but we so often see 

 it left out in making a selection that I think people do not know 

 what they want. An orchard of Lombards will give results 

 pleasing to anyone. I do not advise setting all Lombards, that 

 would be a mistake, but a large part of the trees should be of that 

 variety. Now you may ask why give this advise, because it 

 adapts itself to any soil or location, it is extremely hardy, it is a 

 vigorous and strong growing tree and it is remarkably productive. 

 My trees of this variety have yielded more fruit in a given num- 

 ber of years than any other except the Burbank, and the fruit is 

 of good quality and when properly thinned makes a fine eating 

 plum. I also would recommend Reine Claude and two of its 

 seedlings, Lincoln and Spaulding. The Lincoln is one of the 

 largest of plums, and fine for eating. It is in color a reddish 

 purple with a delicate bloom ; very bright and attractive and is 

 very juicy, rich and sweet; season last of August. The Spauld- 

 ing resembles its parent in color, a yellowish green ; the flesh is 

 sweet and delicious, parts readily from the stone and is not 

 injured by the curculio; season September. The best plum for 

 canning with which we are acquainted is the Satsuma. It is a 

 Japan and one of the latest of them. For late plums, York State 

 Prune and Grand Duke are desirable. There is one of the 

 Japans recently introduced, the Wickson, which I am sure will 

 prove very desirable for a fancy table fruit, and it is quite produc- 

 tive. But whatever the choice may be do not neglect the trees, 

 but give them a chance and strive to do all things in season, and 

 remember that fruit growing offers today not only a better chance 

 for money getting than any other branch of farming but also a 

 better opportunity for quickening the thoughts and strengthening 

 the mind, for in order to succeed we must be alert, quick to see 

 and grasp an idea and willing to devote some time to study. The 

 successful fruit grower must make it the leading branch of his 



