PLUM VARIETIES 295 



and in some seasons might be called excellent. 

 Tending to bear very heavy crops usually cuts 

 down the size of the individual plums and for 

 the best results the trees should be thinned. The 

 variety is said to be less favorably known in the 

 European plum districts than it is in the Cen- 

 tral States. This can readily be accounted for 

 by the variation in fruit due to soil conditions — 

 as I have already mentioned two or three times. 

 I only mention it again so that the reader won 't 

 forget it. I don't want to be held accountable 

 for making some statement that fails to accord 

 with some other grower's experience, 



Pearl 



In The Plums of Neiv York, Professor Hed- 

 rick mentions the Pearl as being * 'unsurpassed 

 in quality by any other plum. ' ' I am sorry to 

 say that I have never had the pleasure of seeing 

 this variety, as it is one of comparatively 

 recent origin. I certainly do fancy fine plums 

 — being one of those who are not addicted to 

 alcoholics and appreciating good fruit more 

 than the juice. Professor Hedrick says 

 further that the trees are only medium in vigor 

 and that the variety in New York is rather un- 

 productive. Any amateur can, of course, tol- 

 erate such weaknesses if the fruit is excellent, 

 but the professional grower wants something 

 more reliable — regardless of quality. 



