The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-06-16
Raising Pluns.

III. r. hOe In June HARPER
IF one has soil suited to it-a heavy clay or
loam-it can usually be grown very easily. The
fruit is grateful to the taste and useful to the
housekeeper that it should be given fair trial.
either in the garden borders or wherever tree
can be planted so as to secure plenty of light
and Air. The young trees may be one or two
years old from the bud; I should prefer the
former, if vigorous. Never be induced to pur-
chase old trees by promises OF speedy fruit. 1t
is quite possible you may never get any fruit at
all from them worth mentioning should
allow q space from ten to fifteen feet between
the trees when they are planted together, and
should cut them back so that they would begin
to branch at two feet from the ground Long,
naked stems are subject to the gum disease.
In tie place of general advice in regard to this
fruit shall give the experience OF Mr.. L. 5.
Force, of Newburg, who exhibited seventy vari-
cites at the last annual Orange county fair.
His plum orchard is a large poultry-yard con-
tanning half an acre, of which the ground is q
good loan. resting on heavy clay subsoil He
bought trees but one year from the bud, set them
out in autumn and cut them back so that they
began to form their heads at two feet from the
ground. He prefers starting with young plants
of this age, and he did not permit them to bear
for the first three years. his primal aim being to
develop healthy, vigorous tree with round,
symmetrical head. During this period the ground
about them was kept mellow, by good cultiva-
tiou and, being rich enough to start with; re-
ceived no fertilizers: Ii is his belief that over
IerElIZdLlOu tCIluS W CttuSo tuS UlS6kSe SO we'll
known as tbe.hlack knot which has destroy ed
many orchards in this vicinity If the garden
has been enriched as | have directed the soil
will probably need little i anything from the
stables, and certainly will not * thh5 trees are
grown In a poultryyard. During this growing
and forming period Mr.. Force gave careful at
tention to pruning. Budded trees are not even,
symmetrical growers, but tend to send up a few
very strong shoots that rob the rest
Of the tree of sustsnance. OF course
these must be cut well back in early
spring, or we have long, naked reaches of wood
and deformed tree, 1t Is far better, however,
not to let these rampant shoots grow to
turitv, but pinch them back in early summer,
thus causing them to throw out side branches.
By summer pinching and rubbing off of tender
shoots a tree can be made to grow III any shape
we desire. When the trees receive no summer
pruning, Mr.. Force advises that the branches be
shortened in at least one half in the spring, while
some shoots are cut back even more vigorously
AT the age of four or five years, according to the
vigor Of the trees, he permits them to bear.
Now cultivation ceases, and the ground
is left to grow hard, but not weedy or
grassy beneath the boughs. Every spring,
just as the blossoms are falling, he spreads
evenly under the branches four quarts OF salt
While the trees thrive and grow fruitful with
this fertilizer the curculio, or plum weevl, does
| not appear to find it at all to his taste. AS a
result of his methods, he has grown large and
| profitable crops. and his trees In the main, are
| kept healthy and vigorous. His remedy for the
! black knot Is to cut off and burn the small
| boughs and twigs affected. If the disease APP
pears in the side Of a limb or in the stem, he
| cuts out all trace of it, and paints the wound
| with wash of gum shelac and alcohol.
| Trees load SO heavily thai the plums rest
| against one another. You will often find in
moist. warm weather decaying specimens. These
/ should be removed at once, that the infection
| may not spread
| In cutting ont the interfering boughs do not
take off the sharp-pointed spurs which are form
| ing along the branches, for on these are matur-
| ing the fruit buds.
| Mr. Force recommends the following ten va
rieties named in the order of ripening Canada;
| Orleans, a redcheeked plum; Mclaughlin.
| greenish, with pink cheek; Bradshaw, large red,
| with lilac bloom; Smiths Orleans purple; Green
6age Bleeker's Gage. golden yellow; Prune
dAgen. purple; Goes Golden Drop and Shrop-
shire Damson for preserves.
If we are restricted to very light soils, we shall
| probably have to grow some of the native varie-
| ties of the Canada and Wild Goose type. In re-
gard to both this fruit and peaches we should be
guided in our selection by Information respect
ing varieties peculiarly suited to the region.