Show DESPITE MANY GOOD POINTS PLUM IS MOST NEGLECTED OF VALUABLE FRUITS there are so many varieties that problem of selecting those which are best suited to particular soils and climate conditions Is difficult one cause of failures black knot on wild plum tree orchards often arc infected from wild plum treba some distance away by W MILTON KELLY the ability of the plan to adapt itself to various conditions of soil and climate makes it one of our most valuable fruits there are many alt ferent varieties of this fruit some of which ara adapted to one soil and and some to another so that plums may be chosen that will thrive in every locality in the temperate regions certain varieties can be sue cess fully grown in every state in spite of all its good points this fruit Is sadly neglected in fact a good plum orchard is a rarity the average group of plum trees is merely a breeding place tor black rot only a few trees ever bear fine and perfectly shaped fruit when properly grown and well ripened on the tree the plum Is one of the most luscious fruits As a des sort fruit and for eating out of the hand it Is second only to the peach for canning it has but one superior the peach and for making jelly it competes with the currant tor first place there are so many different varieties of plums that the problem of selecting those which are best suited to particular soils and clim afre conditions is a one many failures are due to the selection of varieties that one way to save your injured trees are not suited to local conditions some of the old fashioned varieties are most where they can be successfully grown they BM slow to come into bearing and are more susceptible to attacks of black knot the best varieties of european classes are the Drad shaw lombard italian prune and grand duke of the other favorite varieties the green gage should not be forgotten it is an ex client large plum and somewhat later than some of the acher varieties the yellow egg plum la another choice variety but it is comparatively difficult to grow the dawson is one of the best market plums and in some it Is the best variety tor home use and for market nearly all varieties of plums bear bertei crops of fruit when a number of varieties are growing near each other when the trees are planted in gardens the varieties should be set in close proximity or in alternating rows when planted for commercial orchards not more than two or three rows of one variety should be planted er it if important to plant varieties which blossom about the same time and place such varieties together that better results of cross may be obtained tho majority of successful growers prefer to plant one year old japanese trees because they are easier to ban die and train in the way they bestre them to grow on the other hand in buying the european varieties two year old trees usually give the best re suits treso facts should be kept in mind when buying nursery stock cut back the trees severely before planting cut off all of the long roots within eight or ten inches of the main root remove all of the side branches and the main stem to about two or three feet in order to secure low heads low heads are preferable trees pruned in this manner are easier to train in the desired dareo tion plum trees should be trained about the same as apple trees keep the center well opened to let in air and sunlight cut out broken and diseased branches and paint ovar the wounds caused by pruning early in the spring Is the best time to prune plum trees though many very suc growers do considerable pruning during the month of june when plums are grown on a commercial scale it will pay to introduce a definite system ot pruning but on the average farm it is well to use the apple tree as a guide in pruning plum trees on all farms where it is practicable I 1 would advise the planting ot plum trees in poultry yards the poultry will eat up most of the curc ulloa and give the soil partial cultivation by scratching and keeping down weeds they also solve the fertilizer problem for the droppings afford an abundance of suitable plant food for the trees plum trees and poultry make an excellent combination bota for profit and pleasure it necessary to apply fertilizers a mixture carrying a fair amount of potash should be used the japanese varieties are less sua cep tible to black knot but they are not immune spraying helps to check the disease but proper pruning will do more to hold it in check cut out and bum every black knot as soon as it Is discovered by persistent effort there will be no difficulty from this source spraying with bordeaux and hand thinning will help to check the brown rot or ripe rot the plum curcillo cur cullo Is considered by many to be ruinous to the plum crop some years it greatly reduces the yield but during the average year it Is not a serious menace to the crop it seldom reduces the yield on trees in poultry yards the san jose scale Is the most dangerous insect to a plum tree it multiplies rapidly and trees once attacked are quickly ruined elpe ments show that it may be held in check by the use of the lime sulphur spray plum trees require about the bame spraying as apple trees good thorough spraying three or tour times during an average season will give good results reduce the bordeaux mixture to half strength for plum trees too strong bordeaux will be injurious to the foliage of plum trees more especially the japanese varieties |