PLUMS FOR THE MARKET. 



205 



spread it on the surface, for the rains soon wash the goodness 

 into the ground and make the surface soil rich, so that the roots 

 have a tendency to come up to it instead of running down into 

 the cold and poorer soil. The soil can hardly be made too firm 

 round the roots. This I often think is one cause of failure. In 

 rich and open ground the trees grow rapidly and the wood 

 seldom becomes properly ripened, and the consequence is small 

 and weakly developed blooms which seldom set. But where 

 the soil is firm the growth will be proportionately firm, short- 

 jointed, and well-ripened. 



Vaeieties. 



Victoria. — This I consider the most certain of all Plums. 

 It is very rare indeed not to have a good crop on this variety ; 

 it may safely be termed the poor man's Plum, for it will always 

 produce a crop when all others fail. 



Early Prolific. — This, in certain districts, is the most pro- 

 lific of all Plums, and, ripening as it does so early in the season, 

 it always commands good prices. It was raised by Mr. Rivers, who 

 grows it largely for market, and has thus described it : " This 

 Plum has borne enormous crops this year. It is one of the 

 heaviest Plums known. Although not of large size, the bushel 

 weighs from seventy to eighty pounds, the weight of ordinary 

 Plums being about sixty pounds to the bushel. This density 

 renders it a most valuable Plum for preserving, and as a preserve 

 or for cooking its flavour is unequalled." 



Monarch.— The fruit is very large, roundish ova in shape, 

 of a dark purplish-blue colour, and of excellent quality. The 

 tree is robust and an abundant bearer, ripening from the 24th to 

 27th September. It also was raised by Mr. Rivers from the 

 Autumn Compote. 



Curlew. — Another of Mr. Rivers' new Plums. The fruit is 

 large and of a deep blue. The tree is an enormous bearer, and 

 equally with Monarch promises to become a favourite market 

 sort. 



Pond's Seedling. — A large handsome red variety. 



For a late supply of fruit I should recommend : — 



Belle de Septembre. — An enormous bearer and very suit- 

 able for growing as a bush. 



Grand Duke. — A very large Plum, and good. It was raised 

 by Mr. Rivers from Autumn Compote. 



