Pleurothallis 



( 215 ) 



Plum 



PLEUROTHALLIS. 



Nearly 400 species of this genus of Orchids (iml. 

 Orchidaceie) have been described. They are 

 principally natives of the West Indies and tropical 

 America, many of them being little better than 

 weeds. Long, thin stems are usually made, term- 

 inated by a single thick, leathery leaf and a 

 succession of small, often brown or yellowish 

 flowers. Propagation, by division in spring. 

 Compost, pent, sphagnum, and charcoal. A cool 

 or intermediate house will suit the majority. 

 The following are a few of the many species. 

 All are interesting, if not very showy. 



Principal Species : 



barberiana, 6', spr.jOchre, platyrachis, 6", sum., 



pur., wh. gru., pur. spots. 



Orobyi, 3", spr. to win., polvliria, 4", grn., wh. 



y'l. prolifera, 6", win., pur., 



insiguis, 9", sum., pur., pk. 



grn., bl. Scapha, 9', Jy., wh., pur. 



picta, 6", sum., yel., red. lines. 



PLOCAMA. 



One species only (ord. Rubiacese). Pendula is a 

 greenhouse shrub about 2' high, with slender, 

 pendulous branches and white flowers. Propaga- 

 tion, by cuttings. Soil, peat and loam. 



PLOCOGLOTTIS. 



Terrestrial Orchids (ord. Orchidacese) from the 

 Malay Peninsula, requiring to be grown in the 

 wannest house. Propagation, by division. Com- 

 post, fibrous peat, crocks, charcoal, and sphagnum, 

 the material being raised well above the rim of the 

 pot. 



Principal Species : 



acuminata, 10", yel. javanica, 8" to 10", yel., 



spotted red. 

 Lowii, !{'. ochre, br. 

 PLUCHEA. 



Greenhouse or hardy perennials (ord. Composite) 

 of little value to the gardener. Propagation, by 

 seeds. Ordinary garden soil. 



Principal Species : 



raspica, 2' to 3', Aug., hdy., pur. 



PLUM. 



Description. Amongst hardy fruits the Plum 

 ranks high in importance. It is valuable for dessert 

 and culinary purposes, for which it may be em- 

 ployed over an extended period ; while in a dried 

 state, as represented by Prunes, it is an important 

 commercial commodity. For preserving in the form 

 of jam it is probably the most popular of fruits. 

 The present splendid varieties are said to have been 

 derived from the wild Plum, Primus cornmunis, 

 which has become naturalised in the copses and 

 hedgerows of the British Isles. 



Propagation. By seeds, suckers, layers, buds, 

 and grafts. The first named method is usually 

 resorted to for the production of stocks for bud- 

 ding and grafting. The Mussel is best for standards, 

 and the St. Julien for trained trees. Some Plums 

 produce suckers abundantly, and these may be 

 secured for stocks, but the method is not recom- 

 mended, as such stocks always give more sucker 



I'liicnstcmma (sue Hoya). 

 J'lm-itstiijmc (xi-i I'lidocJiilwi). 

 Ploughman's fyilicnard (set: Raccharis). 

 I'lumrightia {iff Gooseberry Fiini/i). 



growths than those from seeds. Layering is easily 

 done by pegging down a branch after cutting 

 partially through on the under side. Budding is 

 the best form of increase, securing fine buds and 

 inserting them when the bark parts freely from 

 the branch ; this is usually in July. Grafting 

 is seldom resorted to, but whip grafting may be 

 done in exceptional cases. 



Soil and Situation. Plums are fastidious in 

 their likes and dislikes, and the prospective grower 

 should ascertain what varieties nourish in his 

 district, and plant those. A few, such as Victoria, 

 thrive almost everywhere. A very rich soil is not 

 desirable, as it tends to the production of wood 

 instead of fruit. A strong, retentive loam is gener- 

 ally the best, but lime in some form must be 

 present, or the results will be unsatisfactory. In 

 all cases the drainage must be good. The situa- 

 tion should be open, though distant shelter is 

 desirable for some varieties. There must, how- 

 ever, be no obstruction to light and air. 



Planting and Pruning. The planting of Plums 

 goes hand in hand with the planting of all fruit 

 trees. The station is prepared at least 2' greater 

 in diameter than the extreme spread of the roots, 

 which are carefully laid out and good soil worked 

 and made moderately firm amongst them. Stakes 

 should always be placed in position before the 

 planting is done. November is the best time for 

 planting, and the growths should be cut back by at 

 least two-thirds their length in the spring. When 

 once the tree has been formed, the less pruning 

 the better, as Plums resent the free use of the 

 knife. Badly placed branches should be removed 

 entirely, as should those having a tendency to 

 grow over others, and thus cause obstruction to 

 light and air. 



Forms of Trees. For orchard culture, standards 

 are the best ; for gardens, bushes and pyramids are 

 very valuable. Cordons answer fairly, and give ex- 

 cellent fruits ; but the best type of trained tree is 

 the fan, the branches being at least 1' asunder. 

 Carefully managed, they will cover a large area 

 and carry immense crops of fruit. Horizontal 

 training is not usually so satisfactory with Plums 

 as with Apples and Pears, and is not so frequently 

 adopted. 



Trees under Glass. Plums may be very success- 

 fully grown under glass, either planted out or in 

 pots, provided light, airy houses are at command, 

 and no undue forcing is attempted. The trees 

 should start naturally, and be brought on gradu- 

 ally. Though when planted out they thrive well, 

 pot culture is probably the better mode of pro- 

 cedure, as the entire plant is then easily under the 

 control of the grower. Plums answer admirably 

 to the general management recommended for trees 

 in Orchard houses (which see). 



Selections of Varieties : 

 Twenty-four in Order of llipening : 



Rivera's Early Prolific. 



Czar. 



Oullin's Golden. 



Denniston's Superb. 



Early Transparent Gage. 



Gisborne's. 



Orleans. 



Belle de Louvain. 



Belgian Purple. 



Green Gage. 



Victoria. 



Jefferson. 



Bryanston Gage. 



Pond's Seedling. 



Transparent Gage. 



White Magnum Bonum. 



Kirke's. 



Diamond. 



Late Transparent. 



Monarch. 



Heine Claude <le Bavay. 



Ickworth Impi'mtrice. 



Grand Duke. 



Coe's Golden Drop. 



