1881 . ] 
rivers’ grand duke plum. 
57 
house, and not allowed to suffer for want of 
water. Early in February, or later, accord¬ 
ing to circumstances, the plants are shifted 
into pots a size larger, and pushed on 
into growth in a moderate heat, where they 
have ample room to grow without becoming 
drawn, and where they can be frequently 
syringed in bright, sunny weather. A stake is 
placed to each plant, and by means of judicious 
pinching, the foundation of a good symmetrical 
growth and shape is secured. The side-shoots 
are all pinched back to about four leaves, and 
if it is the wish of the cultivator to develope 
plants profuse in growth and well furnished at 
the base, the leading main shoot should also 
be stopped, and the shoot produced nest this 
should be encouraged to grow on as a leader; 
as this throws out side-shoots, the process of 
pinching should be again resorted to. When 
the pots are well filled with roots, a final shift 
should be given into others 10 in. or 12 in. in 
diameter, and in these the plants should be 
flowered. It is the custom of growers to place 
the ball of the plant low down in the pot, and 
press the soil firmly about it. The plants 
should be placed in a shady position till fairly 
established, and then transferred to a sunny 
sheltered one, and be plunged in a bed of 
cinder-ashes up to the rims of the pots, so that 
the sun cannot shine directly on the pots. The 
plants should be plunged sufficiently far apart 
to enable the cultivator to get between them^ 
and the working of stopping-back and pincliing- 
in must be done with discretion, according to 
the freedom of growth and habit of the plant. 
If the plants are intended for exhibition, the 
stopping must cease some five weeks before the 
plants are wanted for show purposes. When 
the pots have become filled with roots. Some 
liquid manure can be given with great advan¬ 
tage twice or thrice a week, and plentiful 
syringings given of an evening after hot days. 
About a fortnight previous to the exhibition 
taking place, the plants should be removed to 
a north house, or a sheltered position with this 
aspect, to mature the flowers. 
It will be seen from the foregoing that this 
mode of growing the Fuchsia is capable of being 
put into practice by almost any one having a 
glass structure in which to keep the young 
plants during the winter. Those having glass 
at their disposal in which to grow the plants 
through the summer, could accomplish the 
same results with cuttings struck in February 
or March, because the plants could be grown 
on much more rapidly. It also obviates the 
necessity of keeping the plants through a 
second winter, as old plants never make the 
fine young healthy vigorous specimens, laden 
with bloom, that can be developed in the manner 
just set forth.—R. Dean, Ealing. 
RIVERS’ GRAND DUKE PLUM. 
[Plate 536.] 
E are indebted to W. Stride, Esq., of 
Redbridge, Southampton, an ardent 
fruit cultivator, for the examples of 
this fine late Plum which we here represent. 
They were sent on October 29th, and Mr. 
Stride writes :—“ These are gathered to-day, 
and a part of the crop still remains on the 
tree. Every person whose opinion I have asked 
gives the plum a high character.’’ 
The variety, which forms a welcome addition 
to our latest Plums, was raised by Mr. Rivers, 
of Sawbridgeworth. It is a seedling from 
Autumn Compote, and has already proved 
itself to be a valuable acquisition in its class, for 
besides being decidedly late, it is also of excellent 
quality. The following is Dr. Hogg’s descrip¬ 
tion, taken from the Year-Book for 1880, where¬ 
in it is noted as a novelty :— 
“ The fruit is oval, with a short neck and a 
w T ell-defined suture, which is deep at the stalk, 
and frequently so at the apex, where it is some¬ 
times higher on one side than the other. Skin 
dark, almost a blackish purple, but reddish 
where shaded, and covered with blue bloom. 
Stalk one to one and a quarter inch long, very 
slender, and inserted in a round, narrow cavity. 
Flesh greenish-yellow, adhering closely to the 
stone, very brisk, with a sweet and rich flavour 
when fully ripe. Stone with a very shallow 
and narrow channel, like a thread. Leaves 
large and glossy. Young shoots smooth. 
“ The tree is the best grower of all the 
Plums. This feature is strikingly displayed in 
Mr. Bunyard’s Nursery, at Maidstone, where all 
the best varieties are cultivated and excellently 
grown, but the rows of Grand Duke are the 
finest of all. In the Sawbridgeworth Nurserv 
are many handsome pyramids in a bearing 
state. For this form of culture it is clearly 
well adapted. It will make a fine wall plum, 
and of a wall it is worthy, and will form ex¬ 
cellent espaliers. Grand Duke is likely to 
prove a plum of real usefulness, and in all 
probability it will be largely grown.” 
The accompanying figure will show that the 
variety is as handsome in appearance as it is 
useful in character.—T. Moore. 
