THE PLUM 97 



AMERICAN PLUMS 



The varieties of the several species of this group are 

 now attracting much attention on account of their great 

 hardiness, productiveness, and freedom from disease 

 and insect attack. The fruit is generally of small or 

 medium size, the skin is thick and the flesh acid and 

 clings very firmly to the pit or stone. When fully 

 ripe and soft, many of the varieties are of good quality. 

 Nearly all of the varieties are valuable for canning. 

 The greatest promise of value in this group lies in 

 the possibilities of crosses or hybrids with the Euro- 

 pean and Japanese plums, some of which are already 

 being largely planted. These varieties succeed in a 

 variety of soils, but will generally do best in rather 

 moist land with good exposure. Many of the varieties 

 are not self-fertile and require to be planted near others 

 that will fertilize them. This subject is fully discussed 

 in Plums and Plum Culture, by Prof. F. A. Waugh. 



The varieties of all of the groups differ very much 

 in size and habit of growth, and the distance at which 

 they should be planted is from twelve to twenty feet, 

 according to the kind. Two-year-old trees of the Amer- 

 ican and European plums and one-year-old of the Jap- 

 anese are the best for planting. 



CULTIVATION 



In order to obtain fruit of the largest size and 

 best quality the land must be kept well cultivated or 

 enriched, so as to produce a vigorous growth of foliage 

 and wood. Fertilizers recommended for the apple are 

 equally adapted to the plum. 



PPtUNING 



Most of the varieties of the plum require the same 

 attention as to pruning and training as the pear, hav- 



