OF f>LUMS. ^7 



turn yellow, and drop after they have grown to a 

 considerable size, from their being exposed to 

 the cold frosty winds and rain. * Plums are 

 more tender than any other sort of stone fruit, 

 owing to the flower cup dropping sooner than 

 that of Peaches, Nectarines, &c. They are very 

 liable to decay, after cutting off large limbs or 

 branches, which always brings on the gum and 

 canker, if it be left to Nature to perform the 

 cure. I would, therefore, recommend the appli- 

 cation of the composition (in the same manner as 

 directed for other sorts of fruit-trees) to every 

 shoot where the knife touches, as soon as the 

 trees are cut and nailed. 



If you wish your fruit to be large and fine, 

 you must take care to thin it where it is too 

 thick ; but that must not be done too soon, lest 

 it should be pinched by the cold. The fruit 

 ought to be of the size of a small marble, and 

 well sheltered by the leaves, before you attempt 

 to do this. Never pull off the leaves that shelter 

 the fruit, till it is full-grown and begins to 

 turn. This will be more fully treated of, when 

 w^e come to the management of Peaches and 

 Nectarines. 



I have taken up several old trees from the walls 

 when they have grown too near each other, and 



* In cold and frosty weather. Plums must be covered in 

 the same manner as Apricoti>. 



