CULTURE OK THK PLUM. 59 



Bradshaw, Lombard, etc., will require the latter distance. Trees 

 two years from bud are most commonly planted, although a strong 

 one-year-old tree often does equally well and costs less. 



Cultivation. — The Plum, as stated before, will not be injured 

 by a high state of cultivation; but, as with all other fruits, late 

 working of the soil should be avoided. It is largely being planted 

 in poultry yards, where the cultivation and fertilization is done to 

 a great extent by the fowls, while the trees afford the necessary 

 shade during the summer. 



Pruning. — Most of the varieties require the same attention 

 while young th.at the pear tree does, as they also have a tendency 

 to grow only three or four strong shoots, which become much ex- 

 tended, and when loaded with fruit are liable to be broken oft'. 

 This may be remedied and the tree be made compact and close- 

 headed by a little pinching the first two or three years. The form 

 of the tree is naturally round and should be trained low on ac- 

 count of the ease of thinning and gathei-ing the fruit. 



Age of Bearing. — The Plum nuiy be. expected to produce 

 paying crops of fruit at from four to six years from planting in 

 the orchard. It naturally tends to injury by over-bearing, but if 

 the fruit be thinned, the bearing condition of the tree will con- 

 tinue probably from twenty-five to fifty years. 



Thinning the Fruit. — No fruit is more improved by this pro- 

 cess than the Plum, and with no fruit will the work give better 

 returns. When the fruit is from one-fourth to three-eighths of 

 an inch in diameter, all imperfect and insect-bitten fruit should 

 be picked. Only one Plum should be allowed to remain on each 

 spur, and only one Plum to each three inches of the shoots. 

 Where properly thinned tlie trees are seldom injured by over- 

 bearing and the crop is often doubled in value. 



Classification. — This fruit is divided into seven sub-sections, 

 the most common of which are the European {Pruiins domes- 

 tica), the Japanese (Prumis triflora), and the American 

 {Pninus Americana and Prunus liortulana). The Japanese 

 section is very free from black tuot although subject to fruit rot. 



EUROPEAN varieties. 



Green Gage. — This variety is generally taken as the standard 

 of excellence among Plums. The fruit is small, round, green- 

 ish yellow, melting and delicious; September. 



Imperial Gage somewhat resembles above in fruit, but 

 larger, round, greenish and not quite equal in quality; August. 



McLaughlin. — Large round, greenish yellow, sweet and fine 

 in flavor; tree good grower and productive; last of August. 



Washington. — Very large, round green, often mottled with 

 red, sweet and good; tree large and productive. 



Pond's Seedling. — Large, oval, red changing to violet, beau- 

 tiful and productive. 



