91 
304 The Plum. This valuable fruit, from the ordinary Damson 
up to the Green Gage, is highly serviceable in the culinary 
department. When we consider the various modes by which 
the Plum is rendered of service, both dried and preserved in 
various ways, in wine, pastry, sweetmeats, &c., the importance 
of paying some regard to the cultivation of its numerous varieties 
becomes obvious. They are, however, produced under various 
modes of culture; for the standard Damson thrives abundantly 
in our northerly counties, where the Green Gage requires a 
wall to bring it to perfection. Again, the Orleans, the Wine 
sour, &c., succeed well as ordinary bush espaliers. 
It is indispensable, where a long succession for the dessert is 
required, to place even the same kind in a variety of positions; 
thus, we have the Green Gage on an east, west, and even north 
aspect; and also on ordinary espaliers. By these means Green 
Gages are produced for six weeks in succession. To have the 
Plum continued long in the dessert, it is necessary to make a 
prudent selection from amongst the numerous sorts, and to 
a])point them to their situations with a correct knowledge of 
their habits and kinds. Indeed, we do not know of any fruit 
that has been less studied by even gardeners themselves : the 
proper order of succession, (and, of course, the benefits to be 
derived from it,) is scarcely ever observable, even in the best 
arranged gardens. At the close of this article we will endea- 
vour to assist the reader, by giving a selection, together with 
their aspects, times of ripening, &c. 
It is, in the first place, necessary to consider what soils are 
the best suited to the culture of the Plum. A mellow but 
strongish loam, is decidedly the best. The Plum will always 
be found to flourish where there is a little approach towards the 
clayey principle, providing such sound materials are thoroughly 
drained. In common with the Pear, Peach, Apricot, and in- 
deed most fruits, manures are worse than useless in the early 
growth of the tree, if it is to be subjected to a course of training ; 
unless the soil be what is termed “lean”; when top-dressings must 
be resorted to betimes. 
The Plum is generally grafted or budded on the Brussels 
stock ; this is more gross in its habit, and consequently a 
nearer match as to capacity of sap vessels, for the Plum, than 
the Mussel stock, which, as before observed, under the article 
286. AUCTAEIUM. 
