156 



THE FRUIT GARDEN 



appearance, which strictly cannot be termed dessert varieties. These succeed 

 as dwarfs, pyramids, and standards in the open ground, and so grown, are 

 excellent for culinary purposes ; but the improvement effected in size, quality, 

 and flavour by wall cultivation is so great that their inclusion among the best 

 dessert and exhibition plums is justified : — 



Old Green Gage, Brahms Green Gage, Brandy Gage, Bryanston Gage, Denniston^s 

 Superb Gage, Oullitis Golden Gage, Comte d'Attkem's Gage, Golden Transparent 

 Gage, Transparent Gage, Reine Claude de Bavay, Transparent Late Gage, Gee's 

 Golden Drop, Jejfferson, Kirkis Blue, Reine Claude Violette, Washington. The follow- 

 ing; are, strictly speaking, culinary sorts, but when grown against a wall are good 

 enough for dessert : Archduke, Monarch, Prince Englebert, Prince of Wales, Pond's 

 Seedling, White Magnum Bonuin. 



THE PLUM FOR ORCHARDS AND PLANTATIONS 



By GEORGE BUNYARD 



The plum is generally grown upon standard trees. From these very fine 

 fruit is produced, except in the northern counties. There they are best grown 

 upon walls, then the fruit is not only large, but under the protection of the 

 foliage takes on a beautiful bloom, and in that condition is considered perfect 



for dessert. Pyramid, bush, and cordon trees must 

 be lifted and root-pruned every other year, or the 

 growth becomes so gross that the spurs are un- 

 fertile. They pay well for this treatment, but 

 care should be taken that only half the trees are 

 root-pruned at one time, so that in case of a dry 

 spring the crop is not entirely lost. But when the 

 trees have formed a mass of fibrous roots they do 

 not suffer, especially if the root-pruning is done at 

 the end of October before the leaves fall. 



When standard trees bear a heavy crop, the 

 fruits when three parts grown should be thinned ; 

 those removed can then be used for tarts. But on 

 walls and garden trees the fruits should be thinned 

 when they are smaller in order to give the best 

 results. 



The plum succeeds in nearly all soils, but a 

 granite soil requires the addition of lime. In 

 {k) Pinched growths considerably orchards Standard trees should be planted some 15 to 

 exwnded ; they must be short- 20 feet apart ; they soon Come into bearing. They 

 do well in cultivated land along with gooseberries, 

 currants, or raspberries. When these bushes are worn out the land can be 

 laid to grass, or kept open by cultivation as desired. The plum is a surface- 

 rooting tree, and should never be planted deeply. It requires severe top- 



Elongated Spur 



