2 CORDON TRAINING. 



therefore, to have plums for about five months 

 on the table in some form or other. 



As to cultivation in Orchard-houses they do 

 admirably, but had better be placed out of doors 

 about June or July, so as to improve their 

 flavour, except in cold climates far north. I 

 recommend the Early Prolific as far superior to 

 the Early Yellow, a French sort, which is early, 

 but a shy bearer ; then the Gages ; then Jeffer- 

 son ; Reine Claude de Bavay, a standard of per- 

 fection ; the Quetche ; Coe's Late Red ; and 

 Huling's Superb, for Orchard-houses. But every 

 one can choose, and hardly go wrong, where the 

 variety is so very great and really good. 



The plum, however, is a coarse feeder, and apt 

 to be very vigorous too vigorous for fruitful pur- 

 poses. It must, therefore, be kept in hand. The 

 choice, and not too luxuriant sorts, will suit the 

 Diagonal Cordon.; while, for the Horizontal, 

 where there is plenty of room for lateral expan- 

 sion, select the more vigorous kinds. The plum, 

 contrary to the apricot, improves in flavour from 

 a wall. The treatment of the leaders is as 

 directed for the others, with intervals of twelve 

 inches between them in every case. 



In Fig. 5 is seen the young shoot of the 

 plum at the winter's pruning. The top must be 

 shortened in, as in the apricot, by about one- 

 third, keeping it to four inches long. The pinch- 

 ing-in during the summer is as in the apricot. 



