70 TRANSACTIONS OF THE ILLINOIS 



day for the operation ; by this plan the trees are not crowded as in the seed bed, and with 

 good cultivation are suitable for budding in the fall. I have sometimes foiled to have 

 the pits germinate the first spring, and find that others have the same experience. Bud- 

 ding should be done if the trees are large enough the first season. The last week of July 

 and first two weeks of August is perhaps the best time to bud, though I have had excel- 

 lent success the last week in August, and have also had very poor, a week earlier. The 

 yearling trees, if large enough, may be whip or tongue grafted early in the spring, or 

 cleft grafted the second spring. It is advisable to work as close to the ground as pos- 

 sible, so that roots may be thrown out above the graft. To insure the best success it is 

 advisable to graft before the buds have started, or just when the buds commence swelling. 



PLANTING. 



The trees are fit to set the first or second year from the bud or graft. The ground for 

 as plum orchard should be rolling, or plowed so as to run the water off readily ; a moder- 

 ately rich soil is perhaps the best for the plum, though there are some varieties (the 

 Diapree Rouge for one) that will literally bear themselves to death on a rich soil. The 

 Imperial Gage is a sparse bearer with us on a rich soil, though yielding bountifully on 

 our oak barrens. Fifteen feet apart is perhaps a proper distance to plant in an orchard. 

 It is true that the Diapree Rouge would be better accommodated at 18 or 20 feet, but the 

 Duane's Purple really needs but ten or twelve, while the Imperial Gage will just about 

 occupy the fifteen feet ; but in order to work the Curculio-catcher successfully, fifteen 

 feet is none too much. 



VARIETIES. 



There are a great many varieties described in our fruit books, I shall only speak of 

 those I have had experience with. First of all is the Diapree Rouge, we have fruited it 

 for nearly ten years, and find it possesses more good qualities than any variety we are 

 acquainted with, though it is not as rich a plum as some, it is a prodigious bearer of 

 very large, handsome fruit, of good quality ; it requires thinning in order to produce the 

 largest fruit, is hardy and grows thrifty on our rich, prairie soil. We are indebted to 

 Dr. Kennicott for this variety, being unable to supply a variety ordered, he substituted 

 the Diapree Rouge, with a high commendation of its qualities, and we have never regret- 

 ted it. Duane's Purple is a more showy plum than the Diapree Rouge, and will bring a 

 higher price in market. It bears well, but the fruit is apt to rot on the tree. It is a 

 profitable variety, but it is such an upright grower that it takes about three trees to bear 

 the quantity of fruit that one of the Diapree Rouge will, however it has this advantage, 

 it needs no propping to prevent branches breaking with weight of fruit. 



Imperial Gage is a sweeter, richer plum than either of the others. As a tree, we think 

 it not quite so hardy, and needs a poorer soil than we have fruited it on, to be an abun- 

 dant bearer. 



Red Gage is earlier than either of the preceding, and proves a good bearer with us, 

 though rather small, its fine flavor makes it very saleable in market. Smith's Orleans 

 fb.as not done very well with us, perhaps on a poorer soil it may prove better. 



German Prune with us has proved tender, though we think the fruit is number one 

 or flavor. 



We have fruited other varieties, such as the Nectarine Yellow Egg, Prince's Damson, 



