152 THE FRUIT GARDEN 



are planted on east, west, and north walls, a continuous supply of delicious 

 greengages may be had for many weeks in succession. 



Planting. — With respect to the preparation of the border before the young 

 trees are planted, it goes without saying that good drainage must be provided. 

 As regards the soil which best suits the plum, the instructions given in the case 

 of the cherry will apply equally to the plum, although soil of rather a lighter 

 and warmer nature will give better results. In any case the border must be 

 trenched at least 2^ feet deep, and a little new loam and well-decayed manure 

 mixed with the soil where the young tree is planted, adding a small quantity 

 of lime at the time of trenching. I have found the best results accrue 

 from a fan-trained tree, and this I would recommend in all cases. Fan- 



PORTiON OF Branch in Characteristic Summer Growth 



(o) Continuation of branch growth ; ( p) side shoots marked for pinching at third leaf 

 when not required for training to furnish tree or space with bearing wood, and in 

 winter to be shortened to one or two buds from main stem to form spurs ; {g) short 

 stubby shoots that need not be pinched; (?■), spurs, short stubby shoots with the 

 leaves close together about the apex ; [s] fruit produced on the preceding year's 

 wood ; {i) fruit produced on spurs of the preceding summer's formation, with spurs 

 at side for bearing the following year. Numerals refer to the age of wood. A 

 terminal shoot (leafless) with spurs on sides is shown separately. 



trained trees can be bought at much less cost than a private grower could 

 prepare them. Do not plant too deeply ; as a guide to the proper depth 

 to place the tree, one will be safe in following the example of the nursery- 

 man. How deep it was planted in the nursery will be plainly indicated 

 on the stem of the tree by the soil mark, and this is the depth at which 

 it should be planted again. As regards the distance apart the trees should 

 be planted, the character of the variety must be taken into consideration 

 as some are much stronger growers than others ; as a guide to the inex- 

 perienced I may say that the strong-growing varieties are possessed of large 

 leaves and the medium or smaller growers of small leaves. I do not advocate 

 the planting of trained trees very far apart, for the reason that so much valuable 

 wall space is left bare for a number of years, even when standard trees are 

 planted between. I know that close planting is open to the objection that 



