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 
Fic. 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. 
PEAR. 
Little work with pears has been done on the experiment farm, but 
observations made on neighboring farms, particularly that of G. A. 
Schattenberg, at Boerne, Tex., form the basis for some conclusions, 
