1862. 



XEW ENGLAND FARMER. 



209 



THE EOYAIiE HATrVE PLUM. 



For several years past, the plum crop in all this 

 region has been very light, — so light, indeed, that 

 few persons are now willing to devote much time 

 in attempting to raise it. The subject has re- 

 ceived the most careful attention, both from cul- 

 tivators and amateurs, in different sections of the 

 country — but as yet with little encouragement 

 that we shall be able to overcome the difficulties 

 with which we have been contending. 



The chief obstacle in the way is the black knot, — 

 that has so far gone on in its fatal progress, and 

 has destroyed thousands of trees that promised to 

 reward the cultivator with rich harvests of deli- 

 cious fruit. No one yet knows how to destroy, 

 or even arrest, its destructive tendencies. The 

 opinions of the most skilful are not unanimous 

 upon what causes the disease, whether it be in a 

 vitiated circulation, or is occasioned by the opera- 

 tions of Insects. 



If the trees escape the plague of blacK knot, 

 and show a fair promise of fruit, the curculio 

 comes, and with his sharp pincers opens a little 

 place in the skin and deposits a minute white eg^, 

 which, in due time, produces a worm that feeds 

 upon the young fruit until its vitality is destroyed 

 and it drops to the ground, the worm going with 

 it and secreting itself in the soil, to appear again 



the succeeding year, and thus peq)etuate, forever, 

 this second plague. 



This plum is called The Early Eoyal, and Mi- 

 rian, as well as by the name at the head of this 

 article. 



The fruit from which our picture was taken 

 came from the grounds of our friend Vandink, of 

 Cambridgeport. By "some philosophy that we 

 have never dreamed of," he still succeeds in get- 

 ting good trees and good plums, in spite of curcu- 

 lio and black knot. Downing's account of the 

 Royale Hative is as follows : — 



A new early plum of French origin, and the 

 highest excellence. It is yet very scarce with us, 

 having lately been received from the garden of the 

 London Horticultural Society. It strongly re- 

 sembles, both in appearance and flavor, the Pur- 

 ple Gage, or Reine Claude Violette, but ripens a 

 month earlier. 



Branches very doivny. Fruit of medium size, 

 roundish, a little wider towards the stalk. Skin 

 light purple, dotted, (and faintly streaked,) with 

 brownish-yellow, and covered with a blue bloom. 

 Stalk half an incli long, stout, inserted with little 

 or no depression. Flesh amber yellow, with an 

 unusually rich, high flavor, and parts from the 

 stone, (adhering slightly, till ripe.) Stone small, 

 flattened, ovate. Begins to ripen about the 20tb 

 of July. 



