252 Plums and Plum Culture 



sonal matter. It depends more on the person than it 

 does on the variety. Still, it does depend partly on the 

 variety; and there are, therefore, two different things 

 to be taken into consideration in making a choice. 

 The qualities of the variety must be considered; but 

 one must consider first the qualities of the man who 

 is going to grow it. I would consider the qualities of 

 the man as well as the characteristics of the woman if 

 I were selecting a wife for some confiding client. 



In making a selection of plums, the personal 

 prejudices of the grower are apt to be more cogent and 

 are likely to assert a greater influence in the result 

 than in dealing with any other class of fruits. There 

 are men who believe that there is no salvation outside 

 the Japanese plums. It would be foolishness for them 

 to plant Americanas. Other men think that the Do- 

 mesticas are the only civilized plums, and that "the na 

 tives will do very well in sections where the European 

 varieties cannot be grown." Such men should grow 

 Lombard and Gueii. Still another man will shrug his 

 shoulders and say that "American plums are good 

 enough for America." Let him take my blessing and 

 a parcel of De Sotos and Quakers and go on to suc- 

 cess. The author believes in all sorts of plums. He 

 has his prejudices, too; but that is his private affair. 



Due consideration must also be given to the fact 

 that local adaptation is a matter of grave importance 

 with all fruits, and more so with plums than with 

 anything else handled by the American horticulturist. 

 Domesticas will not succeed on the eastern shore of 

 Maryland, no matter what the prejudices of the grower. 

 The Chicasaws cannot be recommended for Quebec. 

 The Americanas are conspicuous failures in most parts 

 of the south. And in western New York, where they 

 grow the finest Domesticas on this continent, it is 

 wonderful what worthlessness the natives will develop. 



