176 



FRUIT-GARDENING. 



Plum. Prunier. Prunus, 



The Plum-tree grows fifteen feet or more in height, Lranch- 

 ing into a moderately spreading head ; the leaves are ovate, 

 serrated, and on short petioles; petals white. The natural 

 color of the fruit is generally considered to be black ; but the 

 varieties in cultivation are of yellow, red, blue, and green 

 colors, and of different forms and flavors. There are several 

 good sorts that grow wild in the hedges of Britain, and also in 

 America, but its original country is supposed to be Asia. Ac- 

 cording to Pliny, it was taken from Syria into Greece, and from 

 thence into Italy. There are many varieties cultivated in 

 France ; and in the London Horticultural Garden there are 

 about three hundred sorts kept under name. The Green Gage 

 is considered the best dessert Plum, and the Eg-o- Plum for 

 sweetmeats ; but the Damson is the best baking Plum. 



The Plum is said to succeed best in a lofty exposure, and 

 may yield well in the mountainous parts of the United States. 

 Plum-trees yield well near Albany, but the fruit is by no 

 means plentiful in the vicinity of the city of New York. Like 

 the Nectarine, it is subject to the attacks of the Curculio' and 

 other insects. 



It has been observed that Plum-trees growing in frequented 

 lanes or barn-yards, are more generally fruitful than those cul- 

 tivated in private gardens or secluded situations. This circum- 

 stance is by some attributed to the jarring of the trees, by 

 cattle and swine rubbing against them ; thus causing the de- 

 fective fruit to fall on the ground. Geese kept in orchards or 

 fruit-gardens often prove beneficial ; as they, by devouring the 

 defective fruit and other corruptible matter, prevent the pos- 

 sibility of insects getting into the ground, so as to perpetuate 

 their existence or multiply their species. 



Cobbett attributes the scarcity of Plums in New York to 

 neglect. In his American Gardener he asks : " How is it that 

 we see so few Plums in America, when the markets are supplied 



