On the Cultivation of the Plum. 209 



orous and strong growth, and I began to think that they would answer 

 a better purpose than those on their own bottoms. But, by the next 

 spring, they presented a different appearance ; many of them had 

 begun to decay at the root and gradually they became less and 

 less vigorous until autumn, when some of them showed signs of 

 immediate death. The succeeding winter the cold was rather se- 

 vere, and towards spring, at the season for swelling their buds, but 

 few of the trees showed any signs of vegetation, I took the soil 

 away at the roots, and there found what a moment's reflection 

 would have convinced me I should. The stocks just below where 

 they were grafted were completely covered with gum ; and the borer, 

 which seldom touches the plum, had made sad ravages. I soon 

 determined to root them up, and also came to the conclusion never 

 to plant a plum tree, grafted on a peach, again. 



The only advantage that I have ever heard advanced in favor 

 of peach stocks is, that the plums grown more vigorously and conse- 

 quently come into a bearing state at an earlier period than when on 

 their own bottoms ; every body knows how short-lived the peach 

 tree is in our climate ; how subject to gum, canker, and other dis- 

 eases ; and to graft a tree, so hardy as is the plum, upon it, seems 

 too absurd for belief. Gaining a year or so in procuring fruit, if 

 indeed this is the fact, which I am inclined to doubt, — is very little 

 in comparison with the loss of the tree after three or four years of 

 care and expense in bringing it into a bearing state. But with all 

 these obvious facts before the public, hundreds of trees, worked 

 upon the peach, are yearly sold and planted. One great object in 

 grafting or budding upon the peach, is the facility with which the 

 scions or buds take, while the plum stock is extremely difficult, and 

 often one half or more of them do not grow at all. Plum stocks 

 are also not easily to be procured of size large enough for grafting, 

 as they require to be three years old, while the peach requires but 

 one. The demand for plum trees having been very great, is prob- 

 ably one reason why more peach stocks have been used ; but the 

 purchaser should always be informed when such is the fact. I 

 would never plant a plum tree upon my grounds again unless it 

 was budded or grafted on its own kind. 



Among the many kinds of plums with which our catalogues 

 abound, the following I can recommend as excellent, having fruited 

 them successively for two or three years : — 



White or yellow fruited. P%irple fruited. 



White Gage, Royal de Tours, 



Bingham, Duane's Purple, 



Coe's Golden Drop. Smith's Orleans, 



Seniiaua, 

 Seedling. 



These are all constant bearers, and of large size, beautiful ap- 

 pearance, and fine flavor. The old Green Gage, with me, is a shy 



VOL. II. NO. VI. 27 



