33 



Fertilization. 

 The plum bears heavily under reasonably favorable circumstances, 

 and these heavy crops are a serious drain on the vitality of the tree. 

 This fact naturally suggests that the tree should have liberal fertiliza- 

 tion. Chemical analysis shows that the plum pits contain unusually 

 large quantities of potash, which ought to be replaced in suitable 

 manures. It is hardly practicable to give a special formula for fer- 

 tilizing plum trees; they have practically the same requirement as 

 peach trees. As a rule it may be said that lime and potash are espe- 

 cially required, and that one must use his own judgment in the supply 

 of nitrogen, basing that judgment on the color of the foliage and the 

 general vigor of the tree. Dr. Van Slyke recommends the following 

 formula : — 



Pounds. 

 Nitrate of soda, ......... 25 



Dried blood, 60 



Acid phosphate, ........ 250 



Muriate of potash, ........ 90 



This fertilizer has the following composition: nitrogen, 2.4 per 

 cent, total phosphoric acid, 9 per cent; potash, 10.5 per cent. 



Barnyard manure well rotted can of course be used on plum trees 

 in small quantities, though it is certain to have an excess of nitrogen 

 and to be weak in potash. 



Varieties. 



There are a great many different kinds of plums on the market, 

 and the problem of selecting those which are best suited to particular 

 soils and special requirements is a rather difficult one. Much of the 

 failure which we see is due to the selection of unsuitable varieties, 

 and many men are discouraged by such results. 



The old-fashioned garden plums, which came to our country from 

 Europe, are probably the best known; and where they can be suc- 

 cessfully grown they are the most desirable. There are some draw- 

 backs with these varieties, even under the best conditions. For 

 instance, they are slow about coming into bearing, and they are very 

 susceptible to the attacks of black-knot. Those varieties of this class 

 which are most generally successful in Massachusetts are Bradshaw, 

 Lombard, Italian Prune, Englebert, Quackenboss and Grand Duke. 

 There are some other favorite varieties, which, though more difficult 

 to grow, should not be forgotten. Probably the Green Gage stands 

 first amongst these, though in most cases Bavay (Reine Claude) is 

 to be preferred to the genuine Green Gage, it being a later, larger 

 and better edition of the same variety. Another fine old-fashioned 

 plum which is comparatively difficult to grow is the Yellow Egg or 

 Magnum Bonum. Coe's Golden Drop falls into this same category. 

 The different kinds of Damsons have somewhat the same characters 



