12 



BULLETIN 162, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



The Gonzales and Burbank varieties are rather inclined to over- 

 bear, often requiring thinning to produce the best fruit. The season 

 of 1913 was unfavorable for plums because of a severe spring frost, 

 which occurred March 17 and killed the fruit of many of the varieties. 

 In spite of this frost the Terrell plum set a fair crop, while the Gon- 

 zales made an excellent yield of fruit. As these varieties were in 

 blossom on March 1 and March 5, respectively, it would seem that 

 they are more resistant to the cold than other varieties. 



It should be borne in mind that there are several other varieties 

 of the Japanese sorts, as well as of hybrids between them, that are 



Fig. 4.- 



■A bearing tree of the Burbank plum. This variety is well adapted to the San Antonio region 

 of Texas, being of good quality and a reliable bearer. (Photographed July 8, 1912.) 



not included in the table. As all representatives of these groups 

 that have been tested have proved successful, it is probable that 

 there are still other varieties that will do well. It is very evident 

 that these three groups of plums are adapted to a much wider 

 range of climatic conditions than are the peach varieties that have 

 proved reliable in the San Antonio section. 



Little work with pears has been done on the experiment farm, but 

 observations made on neighboring farms, particularly that of G. A. 

 Sr-hattenberg, at Boerne, Tex., form the basis for some conclusions. 



