ON FRUIT CULTURE. IO35 



to Plums. Here it will suffice to state that standard Plums are 

 useful trees to plant in the park or grounds for effect — not to the 

 same extent as Apple-trees, but a few in clumps form a pretty 

 group when in flower. 



The following varieties are excellent as standard trees for the 

 above purpose or for planting in orchards : Belle de Louvain, an 

 upright-growing, free-bearing variety, with very large, reddish- 

 violet fruit ; it should prove a valuable market Plum, ripe in 

 September. Cox's Emperor (Denbigh Seedling), a large, 

 roundish, dull-red fruit, borne in profusion on strong, vigorous 

 trees ; September. Early Prolific, a small, blue-black variety, very 

 hardy, vigorous, and a great cropper; July. Monarch, a com- 

 paratively new variety, with very large black fruit, and promises 

 to be a valuable kind on all forms of trees. Pond's Seedling, 

 one of the largest-fruited varieties ; the trees are strong, hardy, 

 and produce good crops of beautiful red fruit ; end of September. 

 The popular old Victoria is a capital variety as a standard, 

 always cropping well unless the seasons are very bad ; its large, 

 reddish-pink fruits are alike valuable for home use or for 

 market. 



Cordons. — Very few people are aware how wonderfully well the 

 Plum succeeds as a cordon-tree, and what beautiful fruit is 

 produced ; the bloom on the ripe fruit gathered from cordon-trees 

 trained against a wall has an appearance like that seen on hot- 

 house Grapes, and it is against walls or wooden fences that we would 

 specially suggest planting cordon-trees, particularly those of the 

 Gage class, amongst which the following are superb : Bonne Bouche, 

 Bryanston Gage, Comte de Atthems, Denniston's Superb, New 

 Early Transparent, New Late Transparent, Oullin's Golden, 

 Reine Claude de Bavay, and Reine Claude Rouge. All the other 

 sorts of Plums will also answer as cordon-trees, but those named 

 above are the most deserving and richly flavoured. 



Bush or Pyramid Trees. — For these the under-mentioned 

 varieties are very reliable on most soils ; they are placed in 

 their order of ripening: Early Prolific, Czar, Early Orleans, The 

 Sultan, Denniston's Superb, Belgian Purple, Transparent Gage, 

 Victoria, Washington, Jefferson, Kirke's, Pond's Seedling, Monarch, 

 Grand Duke, Coe's Golden Drop (on warm soils), and Wyedale. 

 All the varieties of Plums named for cordon-, bush-, or pyramid- 

 trees will answer famously as fan or other trained form of trees 

 against walls. 



Damsons are very fruitful, whether as standards, half-standards, 

 or bushes, and are of great service in forming shelter round the 

 outskirts of the garden or fruit-plantation. Bradley's King 

 (King of the Damsons), Hereford Prune, Frogmore Damson, 

 Crittenden, and Shropshire Prune are all remarkably prolific 

 varieties on any form of trees; the first-named is perhaps the 

 largest-fruited sort, but all are excellent. 



