Dorr.
American. Large, obtuse pyi-iform, pale yellow, red cheek. August
Dumortier.
Foreign. Small, obovate, yellow russet. October,
Duquesne d'Ete.
Foreign. Medium, obtuse pyriform, greenish. September.
Early Bergamot.
Foreign. Medium, roundish, flattened, yellowish green. August
Excellentissima.
Foreign. Medium, roundish pyriform, yellow and dull red. Winter.
Early Denzelonia.
American. Fruit small, roundish, yellow russet. August.
Early Catherine.
Roussellet Hatif,
Early Roussellet,
Cyprus Pear,
Poire de Chypre,
Perdrue,
Kattem.
Green Catherine.
Foreign. Small, pyriform, yellow, red cheek. July.
Emerald.
Foreign. Medium, obovate, green and brown. Decembei
UNWORTHY OF CULTIVATION. o95
Enfant Prodige.
Foreign. Medium, obovate, acute pyriform, dull yellow. October.
Fine Gold of Summer.
Fin Or d'Ete.
Foreign. Medium, roundish, yellow, red cheek. August.
Famenga.
Foreign. Medium, obovate, greenish yellow. September.
FORTUNEE.
Episcopal, I La Fortunee de Paris,
La Forlunee de Parii:entier, | Beurre Fortunee.
Foreign. Small, roundish, grayish yellow. December, February.
FosTEJv's St. Michael.
Foreign. Medium, roundish obovate, dull yellow. September, October
FONDANTE DU BoiS.
Foreign. Medium, obovate, greenish yellow. December, February
Forme de Delices.
Foreign. Medium, obovate, yellowish, with russet. October.
French Jargonelle.
Belllssime d'Et6,
Supreme,
Belllssime Supremo,
Bellissime Jargonelle,
Red Muscadel, •
Sabine dEte,
Summer Beaut}',
English Ecd Cheek,
Bed Check,
argon(
Vermillion d'Ete,
Foreign. Medium, roundish obovate, yellow, with red cheek. July, August.
Franc Real D'IIiver.
Franc E4al, | Fin Or d'Hiver.
Foreign. Medium, roundish, yellow, brownish cheek. December, February
Gendesheim.
Foreign. Large, obtuse pyriform, greenish yellow. October, November
Gilogil.
6ile-o-gIle, I Garde d'Ecosse,
Poire ik Gobert, ( Jilogil.
Foreign Large, roundish, reddish russet. November, February.
896 THE PEAR.
Green Pear of Yair.
Green Yair.
Foreign. Medium, obovate, green. September.
Green Chisel.
Sugar.
Foreign. Small, roundish, green, with brown cheek. August.
Grise Bonne.
Small, pyriform, green. Middle August.
Green Sugar.
Prince's Green Sugar.
American. Medium, roundish obovate, yellowish green. August, Septem-
ber.
Hampden's Bergamot.
Bergamol d'Angleterre, I Ellanrioch.
Fingal's, j Summer Bergamot,
Bergamot d'Ete.
Foreign. Large, roundish obovate, yellow. September. There is also a
Summer Bergamot, small, round, yellowish green ; and a large Summer Ber-
gamot, all equally worthless.
Harrison's Fall.
Rushmore Bon Chretien.
Large, obtuse pyriform, greenish yellow. October.
Hessel.
Hazel.
Foreign. Small, obovate, yellowish green. September.
Huguenot.
American. Medium, roundish, pale yellow, spots of red. October.
Jalousie.
Foreign. Large, obovate pyriform, russet, reddish in sun. September.
Leon Le Clerc.
Leon Le Clevc de Laval .
Foreign. Large, obovate. y^'llow, few russet spots. December, Februftry.
UNWORTHY OF CULTIVATION. 397
Little Muscat.
Little Musk, I Ftiit Muscat,
I'rimitive, | Muscat Petit.
Foreign. Small, turbinate, yellow, dull red cheek. July.
Louise Bonne.
Louise Bonne Real, | St. Gennaiii Blano.
Foreign. Large, pyriform, pale green. December.
Marulis.
Marcellis.
Foreign. Small, roundish, greenish yellow. September.
Madotte.
Foreign. Large, pyriform, yellow. October.
Messire Jean.
Monsieur Jean,
Messire Jean (iris,
Messire Jean Blanc,
Messire Jeau Dore,
Mr. John,
John.
Foreign. Medium, turbinate, yellow, brown russet. November, December.
Marie Louise Nova.
Foreign. Large, pyriform, yellow, with red cheek. September.
MiCHAUX.
Compte de Michaux.
Foreign. Medium, roundish, yellowish green. September, October.
Moor Fowl Egg.
Little Swan's Egg, | Knevelt's New Swan's Egg.
Foreign. Below medium, roundish, dull green. October.
Muscat Robert.
Poire a la Reine,
D'Ambre,
St. Jean Musquee Gros,
Musk Robinc,
Early Queen,
Queen's Pear.
Foreign. Small, roundish pyriform, greenish yellow. July.
Muskingum.
American. Large, roundish obovate, greenish yellow. August, September.
Naumkeag.
Americaa Medium, roundish, yellow russet. October.
898 THE FEAR.
Neil.
Col mar Xcil, I Poire Neil,
Buurre Xeil, | Colraar Bosc.
Foreign. 1 -arge, oLovate pyriform, pale yellow. September.
Oliver's Russet.
American. SmaL, obovate, roundisb, yellow, red russet. October.
Owen.
American, Medium, roundish oval, dark green, November. (Cole.)
Pailleau.
Foreign. Medium, pyriform, greenish yellow. September.
Pitt's Prolific.
Pitl's Marie Louise, \ PiU's Surpasse Marie.
Foreign Medium, oblong pyriform, yellow and brownish red. September.
Pope's Quaker.
American Medium, oblong pyriform, yellowish russet. October.
Pope's Scarlet Major.
American. Large, obovate, yellow, red cheek. August.
Princess of Orange.
Princesse d'Orange, | Princesse Couquete.
Foreign. Medium roundish, reddish russet. October, November
QuKEN Caroline.
Reine Caroline.
Foreign. Medium, oblong pyriform, greenish yellow. November.
Queen of Pears.
Reine des Poires.
Foreign. Large, obtuse pyriform, greenish yellow. September, October.
Quilletette.
Foreign. Below medium, roundish, greenish, dull russet. November.
Rousselet de Meester.
Ferdinand de Meester.
Foreign. Mednim, roundish, yellow pale red in sun. October. There is
another of this name, large, pyriform greenish yellow, but ripening at same
time, and unworthy.
UNWORTHY OF CULTIVATTOX. 899
ROUSSELET OF RhEIMS.
Rousse'ct, I Spice or Musk Pear,
Petit KousstJet, | Late Catherine.
Foreign. Small, ovate pyriform, yellowish green, brown red. September.
Rousselet.
Large Rousselet | Gros Roussele
Foreign. Medium, obtuse pyriform, greenish, russety. August.
Raymond.
American. Medium, obovate, yellow, red in sun. October.
Styrian.
Foreign. Large, pyriform, yellow, red cheek. October.
Sugar Top.
Jui)'^ Pear, | Prince's Sugar Top,
Harvest.
Small, roundish ovate, yellow. July.
Summer Bon Chretien.
Bon Chretien d'Ete, I Richard's Beurre,
Summer Good Christian, | Musk Summer Eon Chretien.
Foreign, Large, uneven pyriform, yellow, faint blush. August, September
Summer Rose.
Epine Rose, I Caillot Rosat d'Ete,
Poire de Rose, I Epine d'Ete Couleur Rose,
Caillot Rosat, I Thorny Rose.
Foreign. Below medium, round obovate, yellow, red russet. August,
Sucree de Hoyerswerda.
Sugar ot' Hoyersworda.
Foreign. Medium, oblong obovate, yellowish green. August.
Summer Thorn.
Epine d'Ete, | Fondante Musquee,
Satin Vest.
Foreign. Medium, pyriform, greenish yellow. September.
Summer St. Germain.
. Germain. I St. Germai
St. Germain d'Ete.
Foreign. Medium, obovate, pale green August, September
Short's St. Germain. I St. Germain de Martin,
St. Germain d'Ete.
400 THE PEAR.
Sullivan.
Foreign. Medium, oblong pyriform, greenish yellow. September.
Swan's Egg.
New Swan's Egg.
Fruit below medium, oval obovate, pale green, dull brown. October.
Swiss Bergamot.
Bergamot Suisse.
Foreign. Medium, roundish, striped pale green, yellow, and red. October.
Sylvange.
Bergamot Sylvange. | Green Sylvange.
Foreign. Medium, roundish obovate, dull pale green. October.
Tarquin.
Foreign. Medium, oblong pyriform, dull yellow. December, February.
Van Buren.
American. Large, obovate, yellow, red in sun, October.
Vallee Franche.
De Vallee, | De Keingheim.
Foreign. Medium, obtuse pyriform, pale yellowish green. August.
Virgouleuse.
Poire Glace, [ Chambrette,
Bujaleuf.
Foreign. Large, oval obovate, yellowish green, gray dots. November,
January.
William. (Edward's.)
American. Medium, obtuse pyriform, yellow, dotted with red. September.
Windsor.
Summer Bell, | Konge.
Foreign. Large, pyriform, dull yellowish green. August, September,
Whitfield.
Medium, obovate, yellowish brown. October.
UNWORTHY OF CULTIVATION. 401
WURZUR.
Wurzur d'Autuiiin.
Foreign Medium, pyriform, yellowish, russeted. November.
Winter Orange.
Orange d'Hiver.
Foreign. Medium, roundish, yellowish green. November, January.
Yat.
YaVe,
Foreign. Small, pyriform, brownish russet. September.
ZoAP Flat.
American. Small, obovate, green. September, October.
THE PLUM.
Prunus domestica, L. Rosaceoe of Botanists.
The Plum is found in a wild state throughout the middle sections
of this country, but the original parent of the cultivated varieties is
supposed to have come from Asia Minor. The fact of production
in our States of many varieties esteemed among the best, attests
the adaptedness of both soil and climate.
Propagation — By se^ed, — The gathering, preserving, and planting
of the plum is the same as we have described under head of peaches,
to which, therefore, we refer the reader. Of the best varieties for
producing stocks on which to bud, any free- growing sorts may be
taken ; avoiding, except wanted for forming dwarf trees, those of
slow habit, and in all cases avoiding the damsons. The wild red or
yellow ( P. Americana) is much used by many nurserymen, but
it should always be worked just at or rather below the collar.
Seedlings from it often answer to work the same season, and we
have seen them used with advantage as stocks for the peach. The
Chickasaw (P. ckicasa) is used at the South, where it is a native.
New varieties have thus far been produced from chance seedlings ;
no person, to our know^ledge, in this country, having exerted them-
selves to the production of varieties with any special view to the
preserving of separate or combined characters.
By Budding, — Tlie plum is generally and best propagated in its
varieties by budding. This should be performed in the month of
July. Strong stocks of free-growing sorts should be especially select-
ed for inserting buds of such varieties as Green Gage, Purple Favor-
ite, &c., &c.
By Qrafting. — Where budding can be done, we should prefer
never to graft. But it not unfrequently happens among nursery-
men, that o^ving to some causes buds fail, and this, too, when the
stocks if left-until another budding season would become too large.
They may therefore be grafted with success and profit, by cuttin^r
them off just at the collar, and grafting early in the month of March,
drawing the earth up ^^ound the graft, and leaving only one bnd
out. Tan, bark, saw-dust, or other mulch should be placed on the
ground, and free-growing sorts, as Imperial Gage, Lombard, &c.,
should only be used. Grafting on pieces of roots is sometime?
(402)
CULTURE. 403
practised, and as successfully, if free-growing kinds only are used, as
in the apple ; it is also done in same way : we cannot recommend it.
Transplanting and Distance Apart. — The plum tree is per-
fectly hardy, and we prefer in all cases to transplant in the fall, say
October. The shoots of the year should be cut back to form a
round regular head, and all small or slender-grown shoots cut out ;
The roots, with exception of tap-root, should only have the ends
trimmed smooth, the tap-root should be cut out. The distance apart
of the plum depends very much on the variety ; such sorts as
Green Gage, Cloth of Gold, Ace, requiring only to be about fifteen
feet apart, while the Imperial Gage, Washington, &c., would be
better at twenty feet.
Soil and Situation. — The soil generally recommended for suc-
cessful growth and fruiting of the plum is denominated heavy clay ;
this, by some, is construed to mean a soil so devoid of sand as to
bake and crack open after periods of heavy rain ; we have been un-
able to perceive any special difference in the success of growers in
varied soils, relative to the growth, hardihood, or bearing habit of
trees. That certain elements are requisite in the soil, wherever a
tree is planted, to supply suitable food for the growth and perfecting
of both fruit and wood, we do not doubt ; but as yet, we are to learn
that a cultivator who plants on clay soil will be any more success-
ful either in health of trees or procuring a crop of perfect fruit, than
he who plants on what is termed usually a light or sandy soil, and
supplies that soil, if deficient, with the elements requisite for the plant
to support health. Analysis of the plum tree and fruit has not, to
our knowledge, as yet been made. The trees appear to grow, both
in nursery and orchard, equally well on sandy as on clay soil : the
insect curculio, and the leaf-blight or defoliation of the trees in July
and August, black warts, &c., &;c., are equally injurious in one as the
other location. Native wild trees are found growing in all soils,
and in our rambles we have met with trees equally healthy and pro-
ductive, equally attacked in fruit by curculio, and rot or decay, in
leaf-blight and black knots, in all soils, from strong clay, through all
intermediates, to sandy soils. We therefore say, plant the plum in
any good soil which is well drained. The situation suited to the
plum is that where the soil is well drained, and where the inos*-
convenient.
Pruning. — The plum grown as a standard tree, with head formed
four to six feet high, requires little pruning, except to shorten back
each summer or spring such shoots as are becoming too vigorous
and likely to destroy the regular form of the tree, or to cut out
weakly-growing and unripened shoots. A round-headed tree, with
404 THE PLUM.
branches formed at two feet from the ground, we consider bes^-' In
order to have this, trees one year old from the bud are best to begin
with ; the stem cut off so as to let two buds start at about two feet
from ground, then . shortened back one half the next year. After
which, if the tree is of the slow or slender-growing varieties, it will
need no farther pruning than the above-named standard. If it is of
the strong, rampant-growing kind, it will require both root-pruning,
(i. e., passing round the root of the tree in a circle distant from the
body two feet for a tree of ten feet high, and with a long, sharp
spade, cut off all the roots,) and at same time shorten back the
year's growth one half This is best done in August. This mode is
especially calculated for the Western prairies and the warm South-
ern States.
Cultivation. — Like all other fruit trees, the plum does best when
the ground is often dug or hoed around. Many growers are also of
impression that frequent stirring the soil prevents attacks of cur-
culio. Trees planted where swine have run among them are gene-
rally healthy and fruitful ; but whether it is owing to the stirring
of ground by their rooting, or food supplied the plants in their excre-
ment, is yet a question undecided.
Manures. — The plum requires abundant food in the soil, and this
is generally best supplied by animal manure ; and where abundant
supply of animal manure has been given, salt will be found highly
beneficial : the proportion should be controlled somewhat by the
quantity of animal matter contained in the soil ; but a dressing of
half an mch deep over the whole ground, if applied in the spring,
may be regarded as a medium. The benefit to the tree of this
application will be in its tendency to an equable state of moisture in
the soil. Ashes, m soils devoid of lime and tie phosphates, will be
found beneficial : two bushels to a tree twel ve feet high, and in
bearing state, will be a guide ; larger trees requiring more, and
smaller ones less. Brewers' grains are also valuable as a manure,
when they can be obtained at prices corresponding with the value of
animal manures.
Diseases. — The Black Warts, Knots, or Black Gum, is a disease
affecting many plum trees at the North. In the Southern States it
is not yet much known. Its cause is variously attributed — by some
to insects, {membracis bubalis. See Harris's Treatise on Insects ;)
by some to inherent cause from its parent; by some to tem-
perature and atmospheric change on the health and vigor of the
tree ; and by others to a diseased state of sap. After noting
that it first appears in a neighborhood on trees grown from
suckers, or propagated on sucker or unhealthy stocks, we are inclined
to a support of the last-named cause. Trees in a iudicious, rather
^ CULTURE. 405
high state of cultivation, and grown or worked on good, healthy
seedlings, are rarely subject to it. And a tree diseased by inocu-
lation may be recovered by appliance of abundant food at the roots,
cutting away the apparent knots, and washing . the wounds either
with salt or copperas-water. The latter is best. And if, also, the
whole tree be watered with a solution of one ounce of copperas to
two gallons of water, the knots will disappear.
Defoliation of both seedling stocks and bearing trees, in the
months of July and August, we believe is caused by want of some
specific ingredient in the soil. We have pured it by dressing with
ashes, and by watering with copperas-water as above named. When
animal manures and salt have been used, we have never seen the
foliage drop.
Rot or Decay of Fruit is often a very serious drawback to the
sanguine expectations of the fruit-grower. We have supposed it to
arise from atmospheric influence, and to pervade the fruit in like
manner as fever and ague does the human frame, but have been
compelled to relinquish this theory. Latterly we are inclined to
the belief that it has its origin in too great exhaustion of the sup-
plies of the tree, by reason of excess of quantity ; as trees that have
come under our notice on which only a moderate quantity of fruit
was permitted to mature have apparently been free, while those
overloaded, and only moderately, or not additionally, supplied with
food, have decayed.
Our friend. Professor Kirtland, with some friends of science,
have, however, lately pronounced it a species of fungus.
Insects injurious. — The Egeria. which is noted under head of
peaches, sometimes, but rarely, attacks the plum. We refer to that
head for its remedy. The Curculio, or Plum Weevil, {Rhynchcenus
Nenuphar^ is an insect so destructive as in some sections to have
caused orchardists to cut down their plum trees and replant with
different fruit. Again, there are sections where the insect, although
known, appears not to increase, or injure fruit, materially to affect
the crop. It was unknown in the Western States until within a few
years past, but now pervades all sections, even to destruction often-
times of the wild plum. It has been thoroughly described in " Har-
ris's Treatise on Insects;" and so much is written yearly relative
thereto, that one entire book of four hundred pages would not con-
tain it. Our accompanying figure represents the insect in its natural
size, i. e., about one quarter of an inch long, of a grayish ^^^^
brown color, the wing-covers forming two little humps, ^fl^
giving a rounded appearance to it, resembling a ripe hemp-
seed. The head has a long rostrum, beak, or snout, projecting,
with which it punctures the fruit, as represented by the crescent-
shaped mark on the fruit in our engraving. Early in the month of
406 THE PLUM. #
June the cui 3ulio commences his task of propagation, and his mark
will then be found near the apex of the fruit, at this time not much
larger than a pea ; as the fruit increases in size, the marks newly made
will be found gradually approaching the stem, until in
July, near the close of his labors, they will be found
very near the stem. These last marks in July are
not often found, as they are produced only from a few
insects which have escaped late from the larva state,
or, as some say, have, owing to shallow imbedding in
the earth and great heat, been transformed from eggs
deposited the same season.
The eggs, one of which is deposited in each crescent mark, soon
hatches into a small white larva, which enters the body of the fruit
and feeds upon it, causing, usually, its premature fall- to the ground.
The period at which the young fruit falls, after being punctured,,
varies with its age at the time of the injury. The earlier portions
drop in about two weeks ; but if the stone is hard when the egg is
laid, the fruit remains till near the usual period of ripening, some-
times presenting a fair and smooth exterior, but spoiled by the worm
within.
The insect, soon after the fall of the fruit, makes its way into the
earth, where it is supposed to remain till the following spring, when
it is transformed into the perfect insect or beetle, to lay its eggs and
perpetuate its race.
The curculio travels by flying, but only during quite warm wea-
ther, or at the heat of the day, at which time a person lying flat
upon his back under a tree, and perfectly still, can observe their
movements. If the least motion or noise is made, they remain
inactive. The insects mostly confine themselves to certain trees, or
to the same orchard. But the fact that newly bearing and isolated
orchards are soon attacked, clearly shows that in occasional instances
they must travel considerable distances. Indeed, they have been
known to be wafted on the wind for a half mile or more, the wind-
ward side of orchards being most infested, immediately after strong
winds from a thickly planted plum neighborhood. In the cool of
the morning they are nearly torpid, and can scarcely fly, and crawl
but slowly; hence, at this time of the day they are most easily de-
stroyed.
The plum alone is, however, not the only fruit subject to attack
from this insect, but the peach, apricot, nectarine, and cherry, all
suffer ; and, when a scarcity of fruit, then the tender branches of the
oak, wild plum, and other trees, receive the egg, and dropping the
same, after a period, to the ground, its regular transformations are
continued, and the succeeding season the natural instinct of the
insect leads it to the fruit again.
The preventives to injury from the natural instinct and course o'
CULTURE. 407
the ciirculio are reoorded hi number more thnn we care to recoimt
Suffice it that, as yet, no certain agent or preventive has been found ;
trees, to our knowledge, this year producing abundant crops, when
no specific disinfecting agent has been applied, while trees forty rods
distant have all their fruit destroyed. Salt, sulphur, lime-water, et€.,
etc., as variously recommended, is not a certain specific ; and he who
uses is just as liable to lose his crop of fruit as he who uses not.
Hanging iron hoops in the trees, etc., etc., is a little like the old
Salem practice of nailing horse-shoes over the door ; and the one as
valuable as the other. The natural instinct of the insert teaching
it to seek such place of deposit for its egg as will insure successful
production, avoids all trees where the soil is daily stirred under-
neath, or where causes are that the fruit shall drop ere rc-quired by
the larvae of the insect ; hence the value of plantations made where
swine are to run, or the planting of single trees where daily passing
subjects them to chance loss of fruit. So also that of paving, and of
trees standing on sites where water becomes the recipient of falling
fruit. Heavy soils are just as much subject to destruction of plum
from curculio as light soils. Soils termed wet are less subject ; but
here the tree does not flourish as well. In large orchards, where there
is much fruit to save, a man constantly employed with a pole of about
ten feet long, having a small cup or basin fastened at one end, pass-
mg from tree to tree and scattering dirt freely, will well repay the
cost, in the amount of fruit saved ; while, for small gardens, the
plan first introduced, more than twenty years since, by one of the
most estimable horticulturists of the States, David Thomas, of New-
York, is the best. It is,in first preparing a short pole, having at one
end a cushion made of several' thicknesses of cloth or India-rubber;
place this cushion against the body of the tree early in the morning,
(having first spread a sheet or large cloth on the ground, the dia-
meter of the branches ;) then strike the end with a heavy mallet:
the jar causes the insect to drop on the cloth, when it may easily be
gathered and destroyed.
Uses. — The best varieties are by many esteemed delicious for the
dessert. Others, and even the unripe fruit, are used in pies, tarts,
conserves and sweetmeats. Our own taste compels us to place the
plum in the lowest scale of cultivated fruits, and mainly from the
fact that, unless perfectly ripe and fresh from the tree, if eaten in a
raw state, they tend to flatulence and disease. Dried or cooked,
they are regarded valuable, and are an article of considerable com-