PRUNING. 427 



Transplanting and Distance Apart. The plum tree is perfectly 

 hardy, and we prefer in all cases to transplant in the Fall, say Octo- 

 ber. The shoots of the year should be cut back to form a round 

 regular head, and all small or slender-grown shoots cut out. The 

 roots, with exception of tap-roots, should only have the ends trimmed 

 smooth, the tap-root should be cut out. The distance apart depends 

 very much on the variety ; such sorts as Green Gage, Cloth of 

 Gold, &c., requiring only to be about fifteen feet apart, while the 

 Imperial Gage, Washington, &c., would be better at twenty feet. 



Soil and Situation. The soil generally recommended for success 

 ful growth and fruiting of the plum is denominated heavy clay ; this, 

 by some, is construed to mean a soil so devoid of sand as to bake 

 and crack open after periods of heavy rain ; we have been unable 

 to perceive any special difference in the success of growers in varied 

 soils, relative to the growth, hardihood, or bearing habit of trees. 

 That certain elements are requisite in the soil, wherever a tree is 

 planted, to supply suitable food for the growth and perfecting of 

 both fruit and wood, we do not doubt ; but as yet, we are to learn 

 that a cultivator who plants on clay soil will be any more successful 

 either in health of trees or procuring a crop of perfect fruit, than he 

 who plants on what is termed usually a light or sandy soil, and sup- 

 plies that soil, if deficient, with the elements requisite for the plant 

 to support health. Analysis of the plum tree and fruit has not, to 

 our knowledge, as yet been made. The trees appear to grow, both 

 in nursery and orchard, equally well on sandy as on clay soil : the 

 insect curculio, and the leaf-blight or defoliation of the trees in July 

 and August, black warts, &c., &c., are equally injurious in one as the 

 other location. Native wild trees are found growing in all soils, 

 and in our rambles we have met with trees equally healthy and pro- 

 ductive, equally attacked in fruit by curculio, and rot or decay, in 

 leaf-blight and black knots, in all soils from strong clay, through all 

 intermediates, to sandy soils. We therefore say, plant the plum in 

 any good soil which is well drained. The situation suited to the 

 plum is that where the soil is well drained, and where the most 

 convenient. 



Pruning. The plum grown as a standard tree, with head formed 

 four to six feet high, requires little pruning, except to shorten back, 

 each Summer or Spring, such shoots as are becoming too vigorous and 

 likely to destroy the regular form of the tree, or to cut out weakly- 

 growing and unripened shoots. A round-headed tree, with branches 

 formed at two feet from the ground, we consider best. In order to 

 have this, trees one year old from the bud are best to begin with ; 

 the stem cut off so as to let two buds start at about two feet from 

 ground, then shortened back one-half the next year. After which, 



