1876.1 RIVEES’ BLUE PROLIFIC PLUM.-PARSLEY ALL THE YEAR ROUND. 
89 
s 
mend planting so early as April. My answer is, that experience has taught me 
that all half-hardy plants that have not been potted or wintered in heat are 
better planted in April than May. There are many quite hardy plants now in use 
for ribbon-borders, which we find do much better with April planting, as Ceras- 
tiim tomentoaum^ Thymus citriodorus aureus^ Stellaria aurea, Arabia albida, A. 
lucida^ &c.— William Plester, Elsenham Hall Gardens. 
RIVERS^ BLUE PROLIFIC PLUM. 
WITH AN ILLUSTRATION. 
)UR specimens of this amazingly prolific Plum wore sent to us by the Rev. 
W. F. Radclyffe, as Rivers’ No. 4, and we have since ascertained from 
Messrs. Rivers and Son that this No. 4 is to bear the name above adopted. 
The numerous branches sent by Mr. Radclyffe were all heavily laden with 
plums in the way represented in our plate, from which some of the leaves are 
purposely omitted, in order to show the profusion of fruit; the branches, long and 
short, were all literally crowded, and this, we are informed, is the general 
character of the tree. 
The fruit is below medium size, about an inch and a half long, and rather 
over an inch in diameter, oval, slightly narrowed to the stalk, and with a shallow 
suture. The skin is of a dark purple colour, covered with a thick blue bloom. 
The stalk, half an inch long or more, is set in a shallow cavity. The flesh is dull 
greenish-yellow, juicy, adhering to the stone, with a brisk and agreeable flavour. 
It is a good culinary plum, ripening about the middle of August; and the tree is 
very hardy and a great bearer—Mr. Radclyffe says “an amazing bearer.”—T. M. 
PARSLEY ALL THE YEAR ROUND. 
@ HOUGH the culture of Parsley is very simple, yet to have an abundant 
supply of it all the year round is often attended with some difficulty, where 
spare lights are not available for this purpose, and especially in low-lying 
moist situations. The leaves, which are used as a seasoning, and also as a 
garnish, are destroyed by frost in winter, and on cold stiff retentive soils, it 
frequently dies off. It can be grown successfully in any light, rich soil, that has 
a dry porous subsoil. To meet a constant demand all the year round, three or 
four successive sowings should be made from February to May. The seed should 
be sown in very shallow drills, and be very lightly covered. When the young 
plants are up and large enough to handle, they should be thinned to six inches’ 
distance in the rows. The first sowing or two will furnish leaves all through the 
summer and autumn, and with care and a little management all through the 
winter, but I prefer and would recommend sowings in May for a supply in winter. 
A dry border should be chosen for it, and where there is a south wall, a little 
sown at the foot of it will always be useful in spring. Before severe frosts set 
in, ample provision should be made for thoroughly protecting a portion, suffi¬ 
ciently large to furnish a supply of leaves during several weeks’ frost. The cover- 
I 
