FRUIT DEPARTMENT. 
17 
PLUMS. 
Tlie plum is hardy, and will grow vigorously in almost every part of this country, 
hut succeeds best in heavy loam, or in soils in which there is a mixture of clay. Where 
the soil is light and sandy we recommend using yellow loam or yellow clay in the place 
of manure. Swamp muck is also excellent, especially that from salt-water mar.shes. 
Common salt sprinkled about the trees will do them good. Plums do well when planted 
in a hen-yard, or where the fowls have free access to the trees, as they will destroy the 
insects that trouble many of the varieties. .-. 
We offer a limited list of varieties, as we wish to send out only such as we con- 
sider well worthy the care necessary to secure satisfactory results : — 
Abundance. An Oriental plum recently introduced from Japan. The tree is a 
very rapid grower, healthy in limb and foliage, comes into bearing remarkably young, 
and yields abundantly. The fruit is full medium size, color a rich, bright cherry red, 
with a distinct bloom, and highly perfumed ; flesh light yellow, very juicy and tender, 
and of excellent quality ; freestone. It ripens in Western New York the last of July, 
two or three weeks earlier than any other plum. 
Apricot Plum (Pruuus Simoni). In all respects a hotanicixl curiosity. In 
color of bark, and in all points except the net vcinings and color of leaves, it 
resembles the peach. The fruit in appearance comes nearer a flattish, smooth, brick 
red tomato than to any of our stone fruits, yet in smell and flavor it approaches very 
near the nectarine. It is a native of Northern China, perfectly hardy, comes into 
bearing very young, and adds a new type to our fruit collections, a type without a 
representative among our fruit trees. While we place it with our plums, it should be 
classed by itself. Ripens during August. 
Archduke. A large black and very prolific plum, ripening early in October. 
A very valuable addition to late plums, and profitable alike to the amateur and 
orchardist ; good both for dessert and the kitchen. 
Burbank. A valuable Oriental plum, in general character very similar to 
Abundance, but of deeper color and ripening later in the season. The fruit is large, 
nearly globular, clear cherry red with a thin lilac bloom ; flesh a deep yellow, very 
sweet, with a peculiar and very agreeable flavor. The tree is a vigorous grower, with 
large and broad leaves ; usually begins to bear second year after transplanting. 
Bradshaw. Large size ; reddish purple, with blue bloom ; flesh juicy and 
rich ; tree vigorous and productive. August. 
Coe's Golden Drop. Large size ; pale yellow, spotted with red in the sun ; 
flesh firm, rich, and juicy ; strong grower. Last of September. 
French Damson. This plum has much to commend it. Tree a much better 
grower than the Shropshire or Blue Damson. Very hardy, and an annual bearer ; very 
productive. Fruit medium ; dark copper color, with a rich bloom, and the hcst Dam- 
son for market purposes we have fruited ; ripens two weeks later than Shropshire. 
Guii. Very large ; dark purple ; hardy and productive ; becoming very popular 
in the plum -growing region on the Hudson River. Ripens last of September. 
German Prune. A large, long, oval variety, much esteemed for drying ; color 
dark purple ; of a very agreeable flavor. September. 
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