St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1892-10-01

FRUIT RAISING IN ST. TAM
MANY PARISH.
ARBOREr HOxEsrEAD,
Near C0vington, La. !
GROWING PLUMS.
With the thrifty housewife, the
plum is in great favor for making
preserves and jellies. For this
purpose few fruits are superior to
the plum. They are easily grown
and require ~ little attention ~
any tree fruit.
Wild plums are found through
out this parish. Thee, Of couree,
are inferior to the improved and
cultivated fruit, but they indicate
that the plum Il in its native ele-
ment here, and yet one may plant
extensively and still have no plums.
Like other fruits, certain varieties
are partial to certain soil and eli
matte conditions. No matter how
good and attractive . plum may be
in some peculiarly favored location,
when the tree is removed to some
place where the conditions are
greatly changed, the chances are
there It will be worthless, and the
verdict OF the inexperienced cult
vat0r will be, ''can't grow fine
plums here"
Considerable money has been
paid out recently for new varieties
Of plums, in too many cases only to
result in loss and disappointment.
Some Of the recently introduced
Oriental varieties are very desira-
bic where they succeed, bat - With
al other fruits, certain conditions
are required for their development.
Most Of this class Of trees are
healthy and strong growers, but the
local conditions do not answer their
requirements, consequently they
seldom produce . crop. The Kel-
sey plum Is an illustration. II is .
grand fruit, the tree . good grower
and naturally very productive, still
it will not become popular here. 1t
is also subject to insect ravages, BE-
ing more injured by curculio than
others Of this strain, and at last.
what escape frosts and worms are
liable to rot on the tree, 90 that
only the pains-taking, skillful culti-
vator, can hope to get perfect
plums.
1t would require too much space
TO describe al that have proved
worthless, but one more variety
needs special notice - being Of this
class, because it is likely to be
pushed and pulled by tree pedjlers,
who will show samples Of the high
cOlored, odd shaped and rather At
tractive plum. This tree will just
about bear fruit enough to keep up
the supply of samples for peddlers,
it will not do much more. That is,
the .'Primus Simoni. High prices
have been demanded and great
claims set up for this fruit. 1t is
one Of the easiest to grow; cuttings
Of it grow Is readily ~ those Of the
willow, until the tree reaches bear.
ing size, then it dies. It may live
. year or two beyond bearing age,
but when it does 1t is such . scans
bearer that it seldom carries over
half . dozen specimens.
The two most valuable OF the new
introductions are the purple colored
''Botan. healthy in tree and very
productive; Of fair quality, but nm
attractive in appearance has not
failed In four years.
The yellow-neshed ''Botan," also
known Is the Abundance Plum"
ripens after the above named. II
very desirable; fairly productive,
Of beautiful appearance and splen.
did favor. It is, however, more
sensitive to frost than the first
named. There are others equal In
quality and ripening at different
periods, but the naming Of them l.
50 confused It Is not safe to give .
list Of them for guidance in select
ing. Often there are two or three
under one name. Again one may
have two or three names. There
are many native plums, fair to good
in quality, and some very good.
These are worthy Of cultivation.
Most Of them will grow from cut
tings, and can 90 be multiplied
without cash outlay, after . tree or
two Of each has been secured.
The following will be found suit
ed 70 st. Tammany, and viii, In
favorable seasons, give satisfactory
crops:
"Caddo Chief" the earliest Of
the native plums. Quality only
tolerable, but being first in mar.
ket, sells well.
"L0ne STAR" better plum and
nearly - early.
"Wild Goose" the best Of the
Chicasaw plums. Large, beautiful
in color and shape, very juicy and
good flavor should Be picked when
fairly colored, and ripened in the
house. This way Il Is much better
than when left until it drops from
the tree. This il considered IN i'm.
portant and valuable point In it,