102 MASSACHUSETTS HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



For market purposes we should name the Bradshaw, which is a 

 large, early, purple variet}' of fair quality, that alwaj's sells well 

 because it is large and handsome and also because it may be put 

 into our market before it is supplied from New York and else- 

 where. The tree is a thrifty upright grower and comparatively 

 free from the black knot. 



Smith's Orleans is of good size and showy, covered with a deep 

 purple bloom, and sells well though only of fair quality. 



The Lombard is a well known fill-basket variety, of medium 

 size and fair quality. It is a reddish purple in color and the tree 

 is an enormous bearer. This variety needs to be thinned to 

 secure fruit of good size. 



We are inclined to stop here for market sorts, but if a yellow 

 plum was to be added it would be Prince's Imperial Gage. 



For home use we should make a different selection, — Green 

 Gage, Washington, Jefferson, Yellow Gage, Reine Claude de 

 Bavay, Lawrence's Favorite, McLaughlin, and possibly a few 

 others. 



The plum crop is not so reliable as the pear or apple though 

 more profitable under favorable circumstances. In addition to 

 the drawbacks that we have enumerated it sometimes happens 

 that when the fruit is grown and nearly or quite ready to be 

 picked, unfavorable weather will cause the plums to crack, after 

 which they will soon decay and loss follow. 



We do not advise extensive planting of plum trees except by 

 those who are favorably' situated and are willing to take pains to 

 secure good results. 



Discussion. 



On the conclusion of Mr. Hyde's paper, Leverett M. Chase 

 inquired whether arsenical poison had been tried here for the 

 curculio. Reports of good effects from its use had come from 

 Michigan and Iowa. The curculio is comparativel}' absent in Cal- 

 ifornia, but as 3'ou go north to Salem and Tacoma in Oregon, 

 they increase. Mr. Chase thought the exemption of California 

 was closely related to the extremely diy weather there. 



Caleb Bates said that when he was vei'y young he found the 

 crescent mark of the curculio on plums, but never saw a descrip- 

 tion of the insect until Downing's " Horticulturist" was published. 

 Plymouth was formerly a favorable place for growing plums, but 



