358 
THE PLUM. 
thus destroy it, and, as experience has taught us that the mah 
dy spreads rapidly, we will thus effectually prevent its increase. 
If the trees are considerably attacked by it, it will probably be 
necessary to go over them again, about the middle of May, but, 
usually, once a year will be sufficient. If any of the trees are 
very much covered with these knots, it is better to head back 
the shoots severely, or dig them up and burn them outright, and 
it will be necessary to prevail upon your neighbours, if they are 
near ones, to enter into the plan, or your own labours will be of 
little value. Pursue this simple and straightforward practice 
for two or three seasons, (covering any large wounds made, 
with the solution of gum shellac,) and the knots will be found to 
disappear, the curculio to the contrary notwithstanding. 
Varieties. There are now a pretty large number of fine 
plums, and some most important additions have been made by 
the seedlings raised in this country. The Green Gage still 
stands at the head of the list for high flavour, though several 
other sorts are nearly or quite equal to it. The Washington, 
the Jeiferson, and the Madison, are among the largest and most 
beautiful ; and Coe’s Golden Drop, and Reine Claude de Bevay, 
are very desirable for their late maturity. 
in describing plums, the surface of the young wood, when just 
ripened, is an important character ; as it is smooth , in some varie- 
ties, and downy , or covered with soft hairs, in others. In some 
varieties, the flesh parts from the stone, while in others it ad- 
heres. And, finally, the depressed line or channel which runs 
down one side of the exterior surface of the plum, is called the 
su ture , and the prominence or absence of this feature enables us 
to distinguish many kinds at first sight. 
CLASS I. 
Contains those of best quality and most generally approved. 
Bingham. Man. Ken. Thomp. 
A native fruit, originally from Pennsylvania, and named after 
the Bingham family. 
Fruit large, handsome, productive, and excellent. Branches 
downy. Fruit an inch and three fourths long, oval, rather widest 
towards the stalk. Skin deep yellow, somewhat spotted with 
rich red on the sunny side. Stalk slightly inserted. Flesh 
yellow, adhering to the stone, juicy, and of rich and delicious 
flavour. Last of August and first of September. 
