PLUM 175 



are set from 12 to 18 feet apart. Many growers like to set 

 them 8 feet apart in rows, and have the rows from 16 to 20 

 feet apart. 



Plums are pruned much the same as apples and 

 pears. That is, the top is thinned out from year to year, 

 and all superfluous branches and broken or diseased wood 

 are removed. If the soil is very strong and the trees are 

 close together, it may be well to head them in a little each 

 year, especially those varieties which grow very strong 

 and robust. 



The varieties of Plums are very 'numerous. Of the 

 Domestica or European type, some of the best are Brad- 

 shaw, Imperial Gage, Jefferson, Reine Claude, Coe Golden 

 Drop, Quackenbos, Fellemburg, German Prune, Copper. 

 The Lombard is the most cosmopolitan variety, and is 

 always sure to give a crop, but the quality is not so good as 

 that of the others mentioned. For 

 culinary purposes, some of the Dam- 

 sons, which are very small-fruited 

 varieties, are excellent. Of Japanese 

 Plums, the best so far tested for the 

 North are Bed June, Abundance, Bur- 

 bank, Chabot and Satsuma. For a 

 very early cherry-like Plum for home 

 use, the Berger is excellent. Of the 

 native Plums, the most cosmopolitan 

 variety is Wild Goose. Excellent 



varieties are Weaver, Quaker, Forest Garden, Wayland, and 

 others. 



There are four leading difficulties in the growing of Plums 

 leaf blight, fruit rot, black knot, and curculio. 



The leaf blight usually comes on about midsummer, the 

 leaves becoming spotted and dropping off. The remedy for 

 this trouble is to spray thoroughly with Bordeaux mixture, 

 beginning soon after the fruits have set, and before the 

 trouble begins to show. 



