1861. 



NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 



81 



^»^ 



THE APPIiE PLUM. 



The beautiful engraving which we give above 

 is an illustration of the Apple Plum, which we 

 suppose is a comparatively new fruit. During 

 the last summer, our Mr. Tolman, of the Farm- 

 er, visited the grounds of his friend Vandixe, at 

 Cambridgeport, to look at his fruits, and to select 

 some for illustration. Among others — some of 

 which we have already given — he was attracted 

 to the apple plum in consequence of its abun- 

 dance upon the tree, and the fairness and beauty 

 of the fruit and foliage. From the specimen 

 which he brought away, the above engraving was 

 di'awn. 



Several modern fruit books were examined be- 

 fore we could find any account of this fruit ; but 

 in the new edition of Downing we find the fol- 

 lowing : 



That the apple plum is "from the garden of D. 

 U. Pratt, Chelsea, Mass. Fruit medium, round- 

 ish, flattened, a little swollen on one side, suture 

 medium. Skin reddish purple, with a blue bloom 

 and light dots. Stalk short and stout, inserted 

 in a broad, deep variety. Flesh greenish-yellow, 



a little coarse, sweet, sprightly, with a considera- 

 ble austerity of the skin. Adheres partially to 

 the stone. Ripens first of September." 



Mr. Vandine, who has a large variety of plums, 

 and meets with better success in their cultivation 

 than any other person with whom we are acquaint- 

 ed, classes this as among the good fruits, though 

 not first class ; its leading merits are its abun- 

 dant bearing, and the vigor of the tree. 



CoEN. — We have heard some complaints that 

 corn does not dry well this year, in consequence 

 probably of the eff"ects of early frosts. The New 

 Hampshire Journal of Agriculture says : 



"Some of our farmers have placed a stove in 

 their corn houses, and by keeping up a good fire 

 they have very much hastened the process, and 

 prevented further injury." 



Shell Lime. — Shell lime is very superior to 

 stone lime for agricultural purposes, as it con- 

 tains considerable phosphorus. Wherever it can 

 be obtained, it should always be preferred by far- 

 mers. 



