850 GARDENING FOR THE SOUTH. 



is, happily, not very prevalent in tlie soutli. It is a black 

 excrescence or tumor found growing upon the bark and 

 young wood. The bark swells and bursts, and finally 

 assumes the appearance of a large, irregular lump, with 

 a hard, cracked, uneven surface." The flow of sap is ob- 

 structed by the tumor, and its poison is gradually dissem- 

 inated over the whole tree. The dark-colored fruits are 

 mostly infected. The disease also attacks the common 

 Morello cherry. It appeared here, for the first time, in the 

 year 1853, on a tree from the north. The tumor was very 

 small, and contained a worm within. None have appeared 

 since. 



The only remedy is to cut off every branch or twig that 

 shows a tumor and burn it at once. Look over the trees 

 at least twice a year, and remove and burn every affected 

 branch. If on the large limbs, cut out the tumor deeply, 

 and apply with a brush a solution of chloride of lime. 



As the plum is apt to throw out long straggling branches, 

 which are unsightly and unproductive, these should be 

 remedied by pinching, or shortening, so as to form a round 

 handsome head. Most stone fruits require shortening in 

 some degree, after the manner of the peach, or the growth 

 becomes too straggling. 



Varieties. — Prunus Chicasa — Ohickasaw^ Plum. 

 A tree or two of both the red and yellow varieties of this 

 our indigenous plum, should should be admitted into the 

 garden. The fruit is much enlarged by garden culture. 

 Some trees produce much better fruit than others. Leaves 

 lanceolate, more like the peach than the plumb ; branches 

 thorny; fruit small ; skin either light, red, or yellow ; flesh 

 yellow, very juicy and sweet; but somewhat astringent 

 about the stone, to which it adheres. Ripe here 20th May ; 

 lasts a month. Doubtless many excellent native varieties 



