CHAP. XL 



CORDON TRAINING IN PLUMS AND CHERRY 

 TREES. 



THERE were plums in the gardens of Charle- 

 magne. The Heine Claude recalls the memory 

 of the first wife of Francis I. ; while the Da- 

 mascus plum came back to Europe among the 

 Crusaders' baggage. Since these periods this 

 pleasant fruit has daily increased in favour. 

 Nevertheless, it is not cultivated so much as it 

 deserves to be. Plums are in season for nearly 

 five months, and are invaluable for kitchen use. 



Everyone knows this ; but that which every- 

 one does not know is the amazing variety which 

 exists in the present day, and among them are 

 some extremely valuable plums. Amongst them 

 are the Early Prolific (Rivers), the Jefferson, 

 now, however, becoming appreciated, and rival- 

 ling the greengage (Heine Claude of the French), 

 besides a number of others to be found in the 

 lists of the day. These plums can be kept for 

 some time in muslin bags, and they thus become 

 shrivelled, but luscious in flavour. It is easy, 



