_Rivers' Czar._--"Dark red or purple, of medium size, very good bearer, habit erect, compact, vigorous."--R. August 2. _Victoria_, "Fruit large and bright red, very heavy cropper, the most popular plum and best for general purposes."--R. August 22. _Cox's Emperor_, or Denbigh, or Denbigh Seedling, "a large dark red of the Orleans type, habit erect, compact, vigorous, a very good free bearing plum that always cooks well."--R. August 22. _Gisborne's_ (like Pershore), "Fruit deep yellow, rather large, habit erect, compact, vigorous, a great bearer."--Early September. _Rivers' Monarch_, "Fruit large, bluish-purple, the best late C. (Cooking) plum, habit rather diffuse and vigorous."--R. September 13. These ten varieties have borne the test of time, and won approval from the R.H.S. in 1892 and 1901. The descriptions are those of the R.H.S. Mr Lewis Castle omits Cox's Emperor and adds;-- _Early Orleans_, "medium size, reddish purple, good bearer and good C. variety, habit diffuse and moderately vigorous."--R. August 2. _Greengage._--If this is planted, choose July greengage, "rather large for a greengage, habit erect, compact, vigorous, better bearer than old G., fine-flavoured Dessert plum."--R. August 7. _Diamond_, "very large, blue-black, very heavy cropper, habit bushy, compact, vigorous, good C. plum."--R. August 23. _Pond's Seedling_, "Fruit very large, deep red, habit bushy, compact, vigorous, rather late, free bearing C. plum."--R. September 7. _Prince Englebert_, "Rather large, dark purple, habit erect, compact, vigorous, reliable C. plum."--R. August 13. _Coe's Golden Drop_, "Fruit large, pale yellow, habit bushy, compact, vigorous, a delicious late D. plum, an indifferent bearer on bush trees, most reliable on walls."--R. September 13. These remarks are based on the Report of trials at Chiswick in 1901. If one plum only is wanted, choose Victoria, if three, Early Prolific, Victoria and Monarch; to these Dennistoun's Superb and Jefferson might be added for dessert if five are desired. All these varieties may be planted as Standards, but are better as half-standards or bushes. If as cordons they must be two feet or more apart, and lifted about once in three years. There is no dwarfing plum stock like the paradise for apples or the quince for pears. If the dessert varieties are on walls, special attention must be given to pruning and to root-pruning. The growth of coarse thick stems and branches is often fatal to the prospect of good crops. PRUNING AND TRAINING Plums as a rule do not need nor will they bear as much close pruning as pears and apples. But they need special attention in early life.