378 How THE FARM PAYS. 



the tree and shaking down the insects and catching them in sheets. 

 If this is done as soon as the fruit is formed, and energetically per- 

 sisted in every other day until ripe, the crop may be saved; but if 

 neglected, the chances in most places are that the crop will be destroyed. 

 It is claimed, also, that when plum trees are planted in the poultry 

 yard they are rarely affected by the Curculio, as the fowls pick up the 

 insects in the larvae state. No doubt this may be effective to a cer- 

 tain extent; but it is not as safe as the jarring of the trees. There 

 are sections of the country, particularly about Newburgh, N. Y., 

 where this pest does not seem to have got a foothold, and that district, 

 supplies plums mainly for the New York market, and must be 

 immensely profitable from the prices obtained. It would be well for 

 farmers having heavy clay lands to plant a few trees as an experi- 

 ment, or on lands where they can be planted near the banks of a 

 running stream, as it seems that in such localities they are less liable 

 to be troubled with the insect. The trees should be set out at dis- 

 tances of from fifteen to twenty feet each way. The most approved 

 kinds are Golden Drop, Green Gage, Purple Favorite, Washington, 

 Lombard and German Prune. The Damson is also a good kind 

 for preserving, as is also the Wild Goose Plum. This is an exceed- 

 ingly hardy tree, and bears so profusely as to always furnish a crop 

 in spite of the Curculio. 



CHERRY. 



The cherry, like the peach, bears in two or three years after plant- 

 ing, and continues annually to enlarge its growth and productiveness. 

 It is a long-lived tree and often attains a great size. It grows freely 

 on almost any soil, preferring, however, one that is deep and loamy. 

 It should be planted at distances of from fifteen to twenty feet apart. 

 The varieties are Black Tartarian, a purplish black color; American 

 Amber, yellow or amber colored; May Duke and Early Kichmond. 

 Cherry trees are very subject to a disease known as black knot, by 

 which they are greatly disfigured, and, at length, destroyed. The 

 remedy is to cut out every branch which shows the first sign of the 

 disease as soon as it appears and burn the cuttings. A liberal dress- 

 ing of wood ashes and lime has been found a preventive. 



QUINCE. 



This fruit is only grown for use in preserves. It requires little 

 attention, and for that reason it is often much neglected, and when so 

 neglected makes a very unsightly tree. A little pruning, however, 



