STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 57 



not in large numbers, — but in a small way, liopiug at some future 

 time to reap a large harvest from a small area. 



The Quincy market is now supplied with this fruit in its fresh 

 state, the same as other northern cities, from Arkansas, Southern 

 Illinois and Michigan. 



So far as I have observed, the peach trees of this section have 

 made a fine growth this season. 



The plum, as compared with the peach, has been more profitable. 

 Having some experience with the plum, especially the Wild Goose 

 and what is called the Chickasaw, I can say that the trees and fruit 

 buds are perfectly hardy, having stood twenty-five and thirty degrees 

 below zero without injury, coming out bright, and blooming nicely 

 in the spring. 



I think in the year 1882 we had a very fine crop of the Wild 

 Goose plums. Then the next crop was in 1886. This year, 1888, we 

 have had a very fine crop of all kinds — especially of the late kinds, 

 — such as Chickasaw; only a few of the Damson, or blue varieties, 

 were noticed in the market. The season of 1888 was remarkably 

 favorable for the plum, moisture enough to grow and mature a large 

 crop — cool and just right at gathering time. The cause of the failure 

 of the plum crop is, by some, supposed to be the want of proper fer- 

 tilizing of the bloom: hence the idea of mixing up varieties in the 

 same orchard, in hopes that one variety would fertilize the other; and 

 it has been said^ too, that the plum must be set near the cherry or 

 peach, so that they can help to fertilize. 



The summer of 1888 has demonstrated, to my mind, that the 

 above theories are all wrong. The fruit in question blooms very 

 early, and when in full bloom is very sensitive to cold. The bloom, 

 all will admit, is perfect. A frosty night right in the time of full 

 bloom has spoiled the plum crop every time with me. We always 

 want nearly a week of fine, warm, growing weather when the plum 

 trees are in bloom to insure a crop. 



This year, in blooming time, we had nice warm weather for one 

 week, the next week was cold and frosty, but the little plum was 

 formed and in his cap out of the way of Jack Frost. 



In this section I notice that soil and location will make a great 

 difference. On a farm, only a few miles away, is a plum orchard 

 located on rather cold prairie soil. The crop was a failure. Why? 

 Because the blooms were more backward and didn't come out in 

 time to get the benefit of the warm week above mentioned. I 

 noticed this particularly with the Wild Goose variety. 



The late varieties were more plenty in the Quincy market. All 

 looked like Chickasaw. If there were any Miner's or Weaver's, or 

 any other of the new varieties, I could not tell them from the 

 Chickasaw, all looked alike. 



The Quincy market used a great many plums this year. In 



