THE PLUM. 315 



use, and the failure with most varieties, indicate the pro- 

 priety of the rejection of the peach for this purpose. 



The time required to attain a sufficient size for the or- 

 chard, varies much with different sorts. The Imperial Gage, 

 the Washington, Huling's Superb, and others, grow rapidly, 

 and usually produce good trees in two years from the graft 

 or bud; while such slow-growing plums as the Primordian, 

 Green Gage, and Red Diaper, require a much longer period. 



Soil. The best soil, usually, is a strong-, rich, moderately 

 moist, clayey loam. On many light soils the tree grows 

 with less vigor, independently of which the crop is more fre- 

 quently destroyed by the curculio, a pervious soil affording 

 a more ready place of shelter for the young insects, on their 

 escape fro.a the fallen fruit. A few varieties are well adapt- 

 ed to rather dry as well as light lands. 



0?ie of the best manures for the plum, as well as for the 

 quince, is common salt. For large-sized trees, half a peck 

 may be applied annually early in spring; spread to a dis- 

 tance round each tree quite as far as the extent of the 

 branches ; smaller trees should receive a proportionate quan- 

 tity, or just enough to cover the ground equally thick. This 

 application has been found to add to the thriftiness of the 

 tree, to lessen the tendency to leaf-blight, and in some in- 

 stances it has contributed to the repulsion of the curculio. 



In planting orchards, a suitable distance is one rod apart, 

 giving 160 to the acre. The ground should be manured 

 and kept well cultivated, as the plum, especially when 

 young, is very sensitive to the effects of the weeds and 

 grass of neglected culture. 



DISEASES AND ENEMIES. 



The chief are the curculio, and the black excrescences on 

 the limbs. 



The curculio, represented in the annexed figure, (243,) ia 

 0:-^ a small insect not more than a quarter of an inch 

 -^r^vrv'j'^ long, of a dark brown color, the sheaths covering 

 Fi?. 243. the ings slightly variegated with lighter color?, 

 the body resembling in size and appearance a ripe he.;.p 

 seed. It is distinguished by an elongation of the head, re- 

 sembling a conspicuous rostrum or beak projecting from the 

 front part of its thorax. 



