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NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 



For the Neio England Farmer. 

 M'LAUGHLIN PLUM. 



S. W. Cole, Esq. Sir : As I have had some agency 

 in introducing the M'Laiighliu plum to notice, I re- 

 gret that a great number of scions and buds which 

 have been disseminated by Mr. James M'Laughlin, 

 Avho originated it, not only in this vicinity but in 

 Massachusetts and elsewhere, arc not the true variety. 

 I find, in some instances, the Penobscot plum has 

 been sent out as the M'l.aughlin ; and in other cases 

 some other plum than the true one. 



I found most of those I had of Mr. M'Laughlin, 

 both trees and scions, for my own garden, have also 

 proved false, though I now, at last, by previausly 

 going to the original tree, and procuring scions for 

 myself and Charles Downing, Esq., have the tnte 

 variety in hearing. I found Mr. M'L. placed no labels 

 on his trees, but depends on his memory — hence the 

 errors. He says he himself has made many mistakes 

 in grafting in his own garden, by taking scions from 

 young trees which have since proved false. 



The true plum is large, and rather tiat, and when 

 it is exposed to the sun, it has 7niich red round the 

 stalk, and frequently covering about one third of the 

 plum. 



My plum-trees this year are verrj productive, so 

 much so that I am obliged to prop and tie up the 

 branches of my Imperial, Bleccker's, Green and 

 Purple Gages, the Jefferson, Columbia, Lombard, 

 and Purple Favorite, on account of the weight of 

 fruit on them, notwithstanding I thinned them out, 

 but I think not sufficiently. Some of your members 

 of the Massachusetts Ilorticultural Society have 

 lately visited my garden ; also the garden of B. F. 

 Nourse, Esq., adjoining, which is equally productive. 

 Coe's Golden Drop, Washington, Imperial Ottoman, 

 and Yellow Gage, and some others, each bear a fair 

 crop. 



I think the soil and climate on this Penobscot 

 River are congenial to the growth of the plum, as 

 we have thus far succeeded admirably with all the 

 valuable varieties. Kesijectfullv, 



IIEXRY LITTLE. 



Bangor, Attg. 24, 1850. 



As we had received trees of the M'Laughlin plum 

 of C. Downing, E.sq., also of Mr. Bcckwith, we 

 named these facts to Col. Little, and inquired 

 whether all the scions which he furnished to Mr. 

 Downing were true. The following reply is useful 

 to the public in examining this subject. As we have 

 distributed scions of the M'Laughlin plum, we would 

 remark, that our trees of Mr. Downing and those of 

 Mr. Beckwith arc alike, and different in wood and 

 leaf from the Penobscot. As. Mr. Downing is well 

 acquainted with Col. Little, and has a communica- 

 tion with him on fruits, it is probable that he ob- 

 tained all his M'Laughlin scions of him. AVe would 

 add further, that a friend who has had M'Laughlin 

 scions of Mr. Beckwith, has some of the fruit in 

 bearing, and the most of his trees are correct ; but a 

 few are false, as he finds by the growth of the 

 wood. 



Mk. Cole : Yours of the 28th is received. I saw 

 every scion cut from the original M'Lauij/ilin plum- 

 tree, which I carried personally to Charles Downing, 

 in the spring of 1847 ; also some scions of the Pe- 

 nobscot plum. I therefore cannot believe there can 

 be any mistake in Mr. Downing's trees. I was well 

 aware how important it was to have the true variety 

 delivered to one who would disseminate them all over 



the United States, and the countries in Europe. He 

 has already done it. Elijah Beckwith, now in Cali- 

 fornia, grafted plum-trees for James M'l^aughlin, and 

 took scions of the M'Laughlin plum to his home, and 

 set them for himself. He said he cut them from the 

 orif/itial tree. I believe that those that have trees of 

 C. Downing, Esq., will find them to be true. I know 

 of no reason we have to doubt those that came from 

 Beckwith. All the mistakes we have as yet discov- 

 ered can be traced to M'Laughlin himself. 

 Respectfully, 



HENRY LITTLE. 

 Bangor, Aug. 30, 1850. 



For the New Eyigland Farmer. 

 POTATO ROT. 



Mr. Cole. Dear Sir : My attention having been 

 called, to-day, to the examination of the fields of Mr. 

 Lyman Mason, near West Beach, in Beverly, (who 

 is one of the most experienced and successful culti- 

 vators of vegetables in Essex,) I was struck with his 

 explanation of the fallen condition of his potatoes, 

 commonly called potato rot. These potatoes were 

 planted on a piece of reclaimed meadow, that had 

 been drained and thrown in ridges. Their growth in 

 the early part of the season was luxuriant, but within 

 a few weeks the vines have blackened and decayed. 

 This effect Mr. Mason thinks to have been caused 

 entirely by an insect, which he described as a slug, 

 and said he had often found them abundant on the 

 under side of the vine, near the ground. On turn- 

 ing up the vines, the marks of their excoriating rav- 

 ages were apparent. Accompanying these slugs is a 

 striped yellom bug, much resembling that which ap- 

 pears on the cucumbers and melons early in the 

 season. I discovered many of the bug^, but did not 

 see the slugs ; but he said they could be found on 

 vines less decayed. Mr. M. appeared entirely con- 

 fident that these insects were not only the invariable 

 accompaniment, but the cause, of the potato rot, so 

 called. I cannot doubt that the decay of the pota- 

 toes in this field were caused in this manner. What 

 surprises me is, that so obvious a cause of an evil so 

 general should have been so little noticed. Perhaps 

 your experience in matters of this kind will enable 

 you to clear away all doubts respecting it. 



The sudden decay of the potato vine is often at- 

 tributed to atmospheric influences ; and when not so 

 explained, it is charged to the operations of insects 

 so minute, as to be seen only by the aid of magnify- 

 ing glasses. I state the facts as given to me, without 

 presuming to express an opinion of the sufhciency 

 of the explanation. Mr. M.'s success in raising acres 

 of melons, cabbages, and onions, that will compare 

 ■well with the best that I have seen, entitle his opin- 

 ions to much regard. It not unfrequcntly happens 

 that the evcry-day observations of the practical cul- 

 tivator contain more valuable instruction than the 

 most elaborate propositions of the most scientific 

 theorist. 



The prevalence of the blight upon the potato, in 

 this vicinity, is matter of serious concern to the cul- 

 tivator ; a large part of many fields being thus 

 aflccted. I'ntil some remedy can be discovered, it 

 may be useful to note such facts as are well authen- 

 ticated. Inferences should be adopted with caution. 

 Very truly vours, 



J. W. PROCTOR. 



Danvers, Aug. 28, 1850. 



Remarks. — We are pleased in having an oppor- 

 tunity to publish any facts in relation to so valuable 

 a production as the potato ; and it is very desirable 

 that we get more light on that destructive malady, 



