288 FRUIT-GROWING 



trees are slow about starting to bear, are 

 rather subject to disease and the fruit is of 

 inferior quality. Several other sorts are bet- 

 ter adapted to commercial planting. 



Burbank 

 Probably few plums have ever had the adver- 

 tising that has been given the Burbank, a 

 Japanese variety introduced about forty years 

 ago. In many respects it is one of the best of 

 its class, but it has serious faults that render 

 it less desirable than some other kinds. The 

 trees have a peculiar flat-topped habit of 

 growth that gives them a very "Japanesey" 

 appearance and suggests their use as small 

 ornamental trees for use among large growing 

 shrubs. They are laden with white flowers 

 very early in the spring and later the branches 

 are clothed with reddish-purple plums. The 

 trees are inclined to overbear and as a result 

 the fruit is often small and the branches 

 require props to prevent breaking. The qual- 

 ity of the fruit is very poor, not to be compared 

 with Abundance in any way. The fruit also 

 rots badly unless carefully sprayed, and both 

 wood and bud are inclined to be too tender for 

 northern planting. 



Climax 

 One of the best Japanese plums is the Climax 

 if we are to consider only the quality of the 



