176 THE SMALL COUNTRY PLACE 



The monilia is a fungus that attacks the fruit as it 

 approaches maturity, causing it to rot, and when fully 

 developed covers the decayed fruit with light gray or 

 white dust-like spores. These spores are carried long 

 distances by the wind, and are ready to grow wherever 

 the proper conditions are found i.e., any of the stem 

 fruits with moisture upon the surface. Planting the 

 trees where they will have full exposure to sunlight and 

 air, a loose, open head, and thinning the fruit so that no 

 two plums will touch are preventive measures. Spray- 

 ing with the Bordeaux mixture will in a measure con- 

 trol this disease. 



The leaf blight or shot-hole fungus often attacks the 

 plums, causing the leaves and fruit to fall in the sum- 

 mer, and consequently a poor growth of tree that is 

 liable to injury during the winter. 



Varieties. 



While long lists of plums are given in catalogues of 

 nurserymen, there are but few that are desirable or 

 satisfactory. The following list includes those that 

 generally succeed under a variety of conditions, viz.: 

 Bradshaw, Lombard, Lincoln, Arctic, Quackenboss, 

 Fellemburg, Reine Claude, Washington, Green Gage, 

 Imperial Gage and Damson (a small blue plum valuable 

 for canning). 



Marketing Plums. 



Plums for the local market are sold in the common 

 quart strawberry basket, or by the half peck and peck. 

 For shipping they are packed in small crates or in the 

 common grape basket. It is a fruit that keeps but a 

 short time, especially in moist weather, and should be 

 picked when dry and put in a dry, cool place for keeping. 



