io8 THE CONNECTICUT POMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 



The real point to the question, however, is, will our markets 

 take increasing quantities at prices that shall be satisfactory 

 to the growers? 



Having fruited a large number of the European varieties, as 

 Lombard, Bradshaw % Green Gage. Damson, and others, also the 

 Chickasaws and Americanas, and after several years' experience 

 with the Japanese, I do not hesitate in stating as my opinion, 

 that there is no encouragement to plant anything in plums 

 outside of this last named class of the "J^P^-" Taking them in 

 order of ripening. Red June is early, handsome, salable, 

 quality not very high, but still not really bad. Would keep 

 this on the list for profitable planting until something better 

 shows up for its season, which is July 25th to August ist, ordi- 

 narily. Last year it was ten days behind time with me. 



Next, Abundance, when properly grown, is good enough for 

 almost anyone, but if allowed to overbear, take it away — small, 

 insipid, worthless. However, as this inclination of the variety 

 to set too much fruit can be readily remedied by a proper system 

 of pruning and thinning, it can hardly be considered a fault. 

 Burbank is another kind that overbears and rots and needs lots 

 of attention, but is a grand market plum when at its best. 

 Wickson comes later, is large, handsome, and will do to plant 

 quite extensively. Satsuma, one of the finest of all, ripens in 

 September, and when well known, nearly every family in the 

 state will want a few^ bushels each year for canning and prescrib- 

 ing. In fact, if the "Jap" plums could be advertised in the way 

 some of the breakfast foods and health preparations are. by 

 distributing free pamphlets and calling attention to their merits, 

 it is probable the demand for this fruit could be largely 

 increased. 



Besides the few I have mentioned there are a number that 

 have some good points but fail to meet all the requirements 

 of our markets. The Hale plum, when fully ripened on the 

 tree, is of the highest quality and the tree itself is a wonderfully 

 strong grower, but does not seem to be as productive as is 

 desirable. 



Normand is large, bears well, and is a good plum, l)ut is yel- 

 low, and somehow yellow plums are not popular in our markets. 

 A large number of new ones are being tested, some of which 

 are very promising. 



