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68 STATE POMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 



tions have taught that a few spraj'ings of Bordeaux mixture in the 

 early season will generally provide against the defoliation that 

 follows the work of this form of fungi. A healthy and productive 

 plum tree re juircs a healthy foliage carried well into the autumn, 

 and only such a tree can be depended upon to give the most profit- 

 able returns. 



The curculio, the insect so destructive in its depredations upon 

 a'l stone fruits is exceedingly fond of the plum, and as a rule, 

 selects the choicest sorts on which to do its work. It begins its 

 work upon the dropping of the bloom, especially if the weather is 

 warm, but a daily jarring of the trees at this time upon sheets pre- 

 pared for this purpose and a destruction of the bugs as caught for 

 two weeks, will usually insure the crop from further trouble in this 

 regard. Various plans there are to accomplish the same end. We 

 have found the bugging machine, as it is styled, to answer our pui-- 

 pose well, and quite economical in its work. Others spray with 

 arsenical poisons, while many question its utility and fear damage 

 that may follow their use upon the foliage. 



We will next touch upon varieties that wo have found most 

 valuable in the commercial orchard. In this, hardiness, produc- 

 tiveness, and market demands, are the factors to be considered 

 rather than those qualities that satisfy the taste of an epicure to 

 eat from the hand. Very few of the plums produced are used 

 except for preserving in one form or another, hence, we argue in 

 favor of those sorts of known value for these purposes, combining 

 the first named conditions with a disposition to best resist prevail- 

 ing disease heretofore referred to 



The Reine Claude de Bavay is without question the most profit- 

 able of all plums, and but for its tenderness, it would head the list 

 for poprlarity. But in the most favored districts of the Atlantic 

 states it is at best but short lived. The Lombard, well known and 

 exceedingly productive, is everybody's plum, and with its great 

 freedom from the work of the curculio, is justly entitled to its 

 popularity. But as every one raises it, and the season of ripening 

 so often biings it in competition with the glut of Southern peaches, 

 we have thought it desirable to grow it only in a moderate way and 

 push to the front sorts both earlier and later in maturing, which 

 would command the markets for the longest possible period in the 

 fruit season. Hence, we commend the Field, ripening ten days in 

 advance of the Bradshaw, followed by Bradshaw, Guii, Ficnch 



