PLUMS : THEIR CULTIVATION AND VARIETIES. 99 



MEETING FOR DISCUSSION. 

 Plums : Their Cultivation and Varieties. 



By Ex-President James F. C. Hyde, Newton. 



At the earnest request of your Committee we consented to 

 write a brief paper giving some of our observations and experi- 

 ence in growing this fruit. 



We need not go into the history of the plum but we know that 

 it has been long under cultivation and has reached a high stand- 

 ard in size, quality, and productiveness. 



Forty or fifty years ago there was no more difficulty in growing 

 plums than in growing apples, though we had fewer varieties than 

 now. A change came, and the trees dropped their fruit and also 

 became infested with black knots, so that in many orchards plums 

 entirely disappeared. Like the 3'ellows in the peach the cause of 

 the warts or knots was, for a time, a mystery. Some have 

 supposed they were caused b}' the curculio that destroys the fruit, 

 because the larvae of that insect are often found in the knots when 

 the}' are in a green state. It is true that the curculios lay their 

 eggs in the growing excrescence just as they do in the growing 

 fruit, prompted by instinct to propagate their species. There are 

 other theories entertained as to the cause of the black knot, but 

 whatever the cause of this disease the average farmer or fruit 

 grower became discouraged and no longer attempted to grow 

 plums, while the few who were able to do so obtained large prices 

 for their fruit. 



To many the loss of this fruit was thought of little consequence, 

 while others regarded it as one of the best grown. While it may 

 not be as healthful a fruit as some when eaten freely in an 

 uncooked state, it is certainly one of the best for preserving or 

 canning, and we should not like to lose it altogether from the 

 lists of fruits for our climate. 



The greatest drawback to plum growing is the black knot. In 

 many cases the trees are utterly destroyed almost before they 

 have given even one good crop. They become nearly covered 

 with this unsightly and destructive fungous growth if left to them- 

 selves. Not only is the plum liable to injury from the black knot 

 but some other trees as well. The fact is that in order to succeed 



