200 POPULAR FRUIT GROWING. 



Bailey classifies the various varieties of the Prunus domes- 

 tica substantially as follows: 



Prunes. These are known by their sweet, firm flesh, which 

 contains enough sugar to permit of their being dried and made 

 a commercial product. As a rule a good prune should contain 

 not less than 12 per cent of sugar. Many plums that are grown 

 as prunes on the Pacific coast and elsewhere are cultivated in 

 the Eastern states as plums. 



The Damsons represent a small class of plums having very 

 firm flesh, the fruit of which is borne in clusters and the foliage 

 is small. These are commonly seen along fences and in various 

 wild 1 places in many of the Eastern states. They are generally 

 grown from seed and not grafted. The fruit is valuable prin- 

 cipally for cooking. 



Gages. In addition to these there is a class known as Green 

 Gages, which are round and generally of good table quality. 

 The variety known as Green Gage is typical of this group. 

 Large, yellow plums, such as Coe's Golden Drop, may be used to 

 represent another group. Large purple and blue plums repre- 

 sent another section, and some of the most important under this 

 class are Lombard, Bradshaw and Quackenboss. 



Propagation. The plum is propagated in a variety of ways. 

 The American sorts are sometimes grown from root cuttings. 

 In this case the trees used are on their own roots. Cuttings 

 for this purpose consist of pieces of the smaller surface roots 

 that are cut up in autumn, about four inches long. They are 

 then mixed with sand in boxes or nail kegs and stored in a cold 

 cellar until spring, by which time they will be calloused and 

 very likely will have started buds. These cuttings are general- 

 ly sown thickly in drills about three feet apart and covered 

 about three inches deep. 



Growing plums from suckers. The American plums are 

 also grown from suckers which are encouraged by cutting the 

 surface roots about trees that are growing on their own roots. 

 This method is a favorite one for many small growers and 

 amateurs. Some horticulturists consider trees grown on their 

 own roots much superior to those that are grown in the usual 

 way. 



