November 21,18(9 ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
439 
fruit will disappoint the theorists who are unhappy enough to em¬ 
bark a large capital under the idea that certain crops will be 
realised. It is, however, very certain that with a suitable soil the 
cultivation of the Plum will give a handsome return, but the first con¬ 
dition of success must be in the choice of soil. It is perfectly well 
known to all practical cultivators that a calcareous soil is absolutely 
necessary, and although lime can be supplied by artificial means the 
non-calcareous soil cannot compete ultimately with that in which lime 
is a natural ingredient. This is recognised by Andrew Downing in his 
exhaustive book, the “ Fruit and Fruit Trees of America.” In a para¬ 
graph treating of soil he says, “ The Plum will grow vigorously in 
almost every part of this country, but it only bears its finest and most 
niceties of cultivation, and it is generally supposed that a Plum tree will 
grow anywhere, and, as a matter of fact, when planted for the supply 
of an ordinary household, both for the kitchen and dessert, the choice 
of sorts is an important matter, the Plum being so generous when 
well preserved that it will provide the table with a wholesome and 
delicious fruit all the year round. I will for convenience divide the 
use of the fruit into two sections—the dessert and the still room. 
Taking the dessert first, the earliest of these which ripens when the 
Bigarreau Cherries have become a source of regret, as things to look 
back to, is the Jaune Hative, or White Primordian, a pretty little 
yellow Plum, which surprises from its precocity, but is not valuable for 
any other quality, and has now almost fallen out of cultivation* 
Fig. 55. —DORYOPTERIS PALMATA. 
abundant crops in heavy loams or in soils in which there is a consider¬ 
able mixture of clay. In sandy soils the tree blossoms and sets plentiful 
crops, but they are rarely perfected. It is also undoubtedly true that a 
heavy soil is naturally the most favourable one. In certain parts of the 
valley of the Hudson, near Albany, where the soil is quite clayey, the 
Plum is healthy, productive, and delicious, while in adjacent districts of 
rich sandy land it is a very uncertain bearer, a convincing proof of 
the great importance of clayey soil for this fruit.” For clayey soils I 
think we may read calcareous. He also says, “ We have found common 
salt one of the best fertilisers for the Plum tree, as it greatly promotes 
its health and luxuriance.” I confess that 1 have never had the courage 
to apply common salt to my trees, considering the disastrous effects of 
salt generally upon fruit trees. 
People are, however, more interested in sorts of Plums than in the 
Rivalling this sort in precocity, and infinitely superior in flavour, we 
have the Early Favourite. This is a delicious Plum, which in warm 
seasons will ripen on a pyramid at the end of July, and on a wall during 
the middle of the month. The Early Green Gage is a very pleasant 
addition to the Plums of this month. It is not quite equal in flavour 
to the recognised Green Gage, but it is exceedingly good. I have lately 
been able to make an addition to July dessert Plums by the Stint. Ihis 
is very rich and good, and is so dwarf in its habit that it takes no more 
room than a good sized Gooseberry bush. The Prdcoce de Bergthold, 
Early Mirabelle, and St. Etienne are all pleasant early Plums, but 
too small for useful cultivation. 
In August we are well provided with dessert Plums ; the earliest to 
ripen is The Czar, followed by the De Montfort, Early Transparent 
Gage, the Oullins Golden Gage, Denniston’s Superb, Mallard, McLaugh- 
