120 FRUIT GARDEN. 



by suckers, which the old plants afford plentifully. For 

 placing against walls, trees which have been trained for 

 two years in the nursery are to be preferred. 



Plum-trees require ample space. On common walls 

 they should be allowed from twenty to twenty-five feet 

 of breadth over which to extend themselves. The hori- 

 zontal mode of training is adopted by many. The fan 

 form is also very commonly followed, and undoubtedly 

 where there is room it is the best. The shoots ought 

 to be laid in at full length. The fruit is produced on 

 small spurs, on branches at least two years old, and the 

 same spurs continue fruitful for several years. 



Standard plum-trees require only to have a portion 

 of their wood thinned out occasionally while they are 

 young. The hardy kinds grown in this way are very 

 productive, and in some places in the north of England 

 their produce forms a considerable article of food for 

 several weeks, and also an article of commerce, parti- 

 cularly the wine-sour, which is in great request for 

 preserves. It is matter of regret that this branch 

 of fruit-culture has not, as yet, met with due attention 

 in Scotland. 



The crops of this fruit are greatly limited in the 

 United States by the destruction of the young fruit 

 effected by worms hatched from eggs deposited in what 

 are called the stings of the Curculio. This insect 

 has been described by Dr. Harris, the celebrated ento- 

 mologist of Massachusetts, whose account of it, toge- 

 ther with the best modes of protection from its destruc- 

 tive attacks, are all treated of at much length in the Far- 

 mer s and Planter^s Encydoijedia, under the heads of 

 Curculio and Flum-Tree Weevil, One of the best pre- 

 ventives is to have the trees paved around, or planted 



