August, 1889. 
153 
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New Plums. 
The annoyances to which the plum grow- 
er has been subjected by reasons of its cap- 
ricious habits and the depredations of insect 
life has caused this valuable fruit to have 
been, until recent years, more or less ne- 
glected, while attention has been bestowed 
more lavishly upon the other fruits;but with 
the advent of “The Wild Goose’’ a new im- 
petus seems to have been given to the de- 
velopment of new varieties of Plums, and 
the results have been satisfactory and pro- 
fitable, with the probability that in the 
near future the growing of plums for mar- 
ket may become one of the great industries 
of the country. * * * 
Downing tells us of three species of Wild 
Plums indigenous to the country— the Chick- 
asaw Plum, the Red or Yellow Plum, and 
the Beach Plum, while a fourth, which has 
become naturalized in this country, had its 
parentags in Asia, and has given us many 
valuable seedlings that are grown with a 
remarkable degree of success to-day over a 
large portion of our country. It is of this 
species mainly that I shall speak, mentioning 
a few varieties that have come under my 
observation, some of which may be new to 
you, while at the same time I would not ig- 
nore the value of those sorts having their 
parentage from our Wild Plum that seem 
especially adapted to sections where the 
European varieties do not succeed, and I am 
sure it would be a subject full of interest to 
this body if some party whose experience 
may have fitted him to do so, would give 
us a list of the newer varietiesof value from 
the three first named sorts. Of some of the 
new varieties tested within the past few 
years we have found the following good 
enough to deserve notice, 
The Field — Much like Bradshaw, ripen- 
ing a little earlier; very productive, inclined 
to bear early; origin Schoharie Co., N. Y. 
Stanton’s Seedling — Fruit medium size; 
color dark purple, with a beautiful bloom; 
very productive; ripens from Sept. 15th to 
Oct. 1st, and has been kept two weeks after 
ripening with no tendency to decay. As a 
fine canning fruit it has no superior, and 
has fine quality as a table fruit. 
Prince of Wales — A variety imported 
from England several years since; intensely 
productive; large, skin reddish purple and 
thick bloom: flesh greenish yellow; very at- 
tractive, and sells well in the markets, 
though not of the highest quality. 
Middleburg — Fruit medium to large, dull 
copper color; in shape and in keeping quali- 
ties much resembling the Prune, keeping a 
long time without tendency to decay ;hardy, 
and ripening about Sept. 15th; a promising 
market variety. 
Shipper’s Pride — Tree very hardy ; pro- 
ductive, origin, Cayuga County, New York; 
promises to be valuable for market. 
Gueii — Fruit very large, deep bluish pur- 
ple, covered with thick bloom ; flesh yellow- 
ish green, coarse, sweet and pleasant; great 
bearer and very early; tree a hardy and rap- 
id grower. This new variety is regarded as 
very valuable for market by growers along 
the Hudson river. Vigorous grower. First 
to middle of September. One of the best 
where a market plum is wanted of a dark 
color. 
Hudson River Purple Egg— A large, 
dark, purple fruit; considered very valua- 
ble as a market variety in some localities on 
the Hudson river. A fine grower and pro- 
ductive. September; and will be more 
sought after when better known. 
Peters’ Yellow Gage — This valuable 
variety, we think, was introduced by Ell- 
wanger & Barry quite a long time since, 
and yet for some reason has never been 
generally grown and recognized. Fruit 
large, nearly oval, bright marbled yellow; 
flesh rich and juicy, quality very good and 
very productiye. I have often thought that 
if confined to one yellow plum this one 
would be my selection. 
Canada Orleans— This variety has been 
grown some years in the vicinity of Hamil- 
ton, Ontario. Fruit medium to large, skin 
dark reddish purple, covered with a blue 
bloom; flesh yellow, juicy, melting, very 
sweet and rich; ripens early in August and 
handles well. 
With a growing demand for Damsons in 
all markets, considerable attention has been 
given them. As a class they are hardy and 
productive. 
The French Damson has much to com- 
mend it. Tree a much better grower than 
Shropshire or Blue Damson. Very hardy 
and an annual bearer; very productive ;fruit 
medium; dark copper color, with a rich 
bloom, and the best Damson for market pur- 
poses w r e have ever fruited; ripens about 
two weeks later than Shropshire. 
Shropshire Damson — A Plum of fine 
quality, as free from the attacks of curculio 
as the Common Damson, and of same color 
The flesh is amber colored, juicy and 
sprightly. In market it has commanded 
nearly double the price of the Common 
Damson, and is enormously productive. 
Last of September. 
Frogmore Damson — Fruit small, intense- 
ly productive, and promises well. Origina- 
ted in the Royal Gardens of Frogmore, Eng- 
land. 
Farleigh Damson — Another of the same 
class from England, which promises well, 
after fruiting several seasons. 
The following new European varieties 
are being tested, each of which promises 
well and may prove valuable acquisitions to 
our list: Czar, Grand Duke, Rivers Early, 
Prolific, Black Diamond, Mallard, Bittern, 
Curlew, Heron, Late Transparent. 
A few years since a native variety styled 
The Garfield, possessing keeping qualities 
of a very marked character, was sent out 
by a member of this association from Ohio, 
which may be of value. Can any one pres- 
ent say anything in its favor? 
The Bohtan and Ogon may have some 
value, the fruit of which is attractive in ap- 
pearance, while the trees seem hardy. 
The Kelsey is not sufficiently hardy for the 
Middle States.— S. D. Willard, before the 
Nurserymen’s Convention, Chicago. 
Grape Talk for August. 
The early grapes will now begin to ripen 
in this section and further South, and the 
first thing to do is to dispose of what is 
not needed at home. A great fault with 
many is their haste to market the fruit as 
soon as it is fully colored, in an unripe con- 
dition, and those who know no better will 
buy these grapes, find them unpalatable, 
and will be slow to buy again. 
There are varieties that should have at 
least a month after coloring. The Clinton 
and Ives especially so. Both when fully 
ripe are good grapes either for table or 
wine for the masses, although not what a 
refined taste would desire. I have met with 
Ives wine of late that far surpassed what 
we got years ago, and which shows that 
there is improvement in its manufacture. 
The Jewell is perhaps the earliest we 
have and is a superb grape but not large 
enough for show. Early Victor and Moore’s 
Early are close following, the Early Victor 
next to Jewell and decidedly the best. 
Early Victor makes the finest American 
claret that I have ever tasted. 
But here comes the trouble. Will we get 
them? The rot has already set in, and 
threatens to be severe. Although the pro- 
per remedies as recommended are on hand, 
it is impossible for me to apply them; nor 
have I sacked any, so I am at the mercy of 
the rot and birds. Many will say that this 
is inexcusable, but there are circumstances 
which we cannot control at times. Two 
storms, that lashed things severely in the 
vineyard, also added to the trouble, and 
which I have observed have a tendency to 
make the grapes rot worse. 
One thing will be tested, that is which va- 
rieties rot the worst. 
It depends upon the success or failure of 
the spraying whether we are to grow grapes 
here every year, or whether we must cut 
the vines off at the ground, burn up all the 
wood, and grow new canes for a crop next 
season, as this is said to be a sure thing. It 
will be better to have a crop once in two 
years than none at all. And this will have 
to be done thoroughly, for if any vines of 
the old ones are left to carry over the disease 
they will effect others at quite a distance. 
A new grape that bore for the first time a 
few years ago. and a fair crop at that, rot- 
ted most villianously, although it was fifty 
yards from the old vineyard. That having 
the fruit higher on the trellis is an advan- 
tage does not hold good; for I have seen the 
fruit rotting badly all over the trellis, while 
a cane that broke loose and was lying on 
the ground among some grass had perfect- 
ly clean fruit on it. 
Now will be the time to put down young 
canes where summer layers are to be made, 
instructions for which were given in the 
