74 FRUIT FARMING 



CHAPTER VII. 



PLUMS. 



Plums are, after Apples, the next most important 

 crop. As these so soon produce a return, they are 

 planted in great numbers year by year. No doubt 

 fancy prices which the last generation made may 

 not again be reached, but a fair margin of profit will 

 be left. Plums can be planted as close as i5~ft. 

 apart, therefore a plantation soon pays expenses ; and 

 when Damsons are included, the return is reached in 

 a few years. Standards are largely grown, but Half- 

 standards find increasing favour, and where the 

 plantation form is adopted, they form a good shelter 

 in the earlier stages, and the stems can be run up by 

 removing the lower branches. We append a list of 

 almost certain cropping kinds, with a short description 

 of each variety. 



PLUMS FOR PROFIT. 



1 . Rivers' Prolific The best early kind ; seldom 

 fails to produce. It is a weak grower, and never 

 makes a big tree ; perhaps better as a plantation 

 kind, but there is nothing yet equal to it as a first 

 early sort. Fruit small, purple. End July. 



2. The Czar Early, bearing in clusters, and carrying 

 a fine bloom ; a very free grower. Fruit purplish red, 

 round. Makes a fine upright tree, and on that account 

 valuable for plantations, as it does not obstruct the 

 sun ; succeeds where others fail. Mid-August. 



