358 THE PLUM. 



thus destroy it^ and, as experience has taught us that the mala- 

 dy spreads rapidly, we will thus efltectually prevent its increase. 

 If the trees are considerably attacked by it, it will probably be 

 necessary to go over them again, about the middle of May, but, 

 usually, once a year will be sufficient. If any of the trees are 

 very much covered with these knots, it is better to head back 

 the shoots severely, or dig them up and burn them outright, and 

 it will be necessary to prevail upon your neighbours, if they are 

 near ones, to enter into the plan, or your own labours will be of 

 little value. Pursue this simple and straightforward practice 

 for two or three seasons, (covering any large wounds made, 

 with the solution of gum shellac,) and the knots will be found to 

 disappear, the curculio to the contrary notwithstanding. 



Varieties. There are now a pretty large number of fine 

 plums, and some most important additions have been made by 

 the seedlings raised in this country. The Green Gage still 

 stands at the head of the list for high flavour, though several 

 other sorts are nearly or quite equal to it. The Washington, 

 the Jeiferson, and the Madison, are among the largest and most 

 beautiful ; and Coe's Golden Drop, and Reine Claude de Bevay, 

 are very desirable for their late maturity. 



m describing plums, the surface of the young wood, when just 

 1 ipened, is an important character ; as it is smooth^ in some varie- 

 ties, and doivmj, or covered with soft hairs, in others. In some 

 varieties, the flesh 2)(^ris from the stone, while in others it ad- 

 heres. And, finally, the depressed line or channel which runs 

 down one side of the exterior surface of the plum, is called the 

 suture^ and the prominence or absence of this feature enables us 

 to distinguish many kinds at first sight. 



CLASS I. 

 Contains those of best quality and most generally approved. 



Bingham. Man. Ken. Thomp. 



A native fruit, originally from Pennsylvania, and named after 

 the Bingham family. 



Fruit large, handsome, productive, and excellent. Branches 

 downy. Fruit an inch and three fourths long, oval, rather widest 

 towards the stalk. Skin deep yellow, somewhat spotted with 

 rich red on the sunny side. Stalk slightly inserted. Flesh 

 yellow, adhering to the stone, juicy, and of rich and delicious 

 flavour. Last of August and first of September. 



