3IO 



ILLINOIS STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



The principal enemies to the successful culture of the plum are the 

 curculio, black-knot, and in some seasons the leaf-blight, which denudes 

 the trees before the wood is ripened. I know of no remedy for the leaf- 

 blight ; probably a good, well-ripened growth would lessen the tendency 

 to a return of the disease. For black-knot, cutting back the diseased 

 part has seemed the only remedy. 



The curculio is the worst enemy that the plum has in this section of 

 the country, and one that is sure to destroy the crop if some measures are 

 not taken to prevent. Some have succeeded with a limited number of 

 trees planted in their yards or where there was a great deal of passing to 

 and fro. Probably the most effectual remedy is to use sheets and jar the 

 trees two or three times a day while the fruit is setting, as has been fre- 

 quently recommended by this Society. Within the last two or three 

 years quite a number of persons have been successful in driving away the 

 curculio by fumigating the trees with coal-tar smoke. This was done by 

 using a kettle with fire in it, a little coal-tar poured on and set on the 

 windward side of the trees so that the fumes of the burning tar would 

 pass among the branches. 



Enough of the tar or soot seems to adhere to the branches to drive 

 the insects away. 



So far as varieties are concerned, I would plant some of the best of 

 the old varieties; perhaps Lombard is the best for this section. With 

 me the Miner and Wild Goose, thus far, have not given any satisfaction. 

 I know but little of the new varieties and would advise any one to "go 

 a little slow" on them. 



DISCUSSION UPON THE REPORTS. 



Messrs. Crow and Thompson testified that the Miner blooms pro- 

 fusely, but bears no fruit. 



Mr. Woodard said that the prolific trees of Miner at Galena are in 

 Ted-clay soil. 



'President Periam said that a friend of his in Central Illinois brought 

 his Miner plum-trees into bearing by taking out a ring of bark around 

 them about one-sixteenth of an inch wide. 



Mr. Garrett handed the Secretary, who read, the following question : 



Has any member of this convention the De Soto plum? If so, is it 

 a good bearer and free from damage by curculios ? 



Mr. Scott. — I have had the De Soto in bearing five years ; it is a 

 good plum and the trees bear full crops ; last year one of my trees broke 

 •down from weight of fruit. I recommend it for trial. The Miner bears 

 better with age than on young trees ; the trees grow very large and 

 •spreading, like apple-trees. The old, large trees of Miner at Galena 

 stand in grass, in a stiff clay soil and on a high ridge ; these are produc- 

 tive, ilioiigh trees are seldom, productive elsewhere, and I think I will cut 



