284 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



[The speaker here showed samples in bottles of some of the finest 

 varieties of this species of plums.] 



As you will observe, the fruits compare favorably in size with those of 

 the European plum. This species is native all through the northern 

 States, and far noi'thward into Manitoba. It has been reported that the 

 summer after the severe freeze of February, 1899, trees of this species of 

 plum that had been exposed to a temperature of fifty degrees below zero 

 bore a fair crop of fruit. At our Experiment Station we have not failed 

 to secure a crop of this species of plum since 1894^the first year in which 

 we had many trees of it old enough to bear. 



It should not, however, be understood that this plum can be grown 

 without careful treatment. The curculio is nearly as injurious in this 

 species as in the European or Japanese plums. We use the jarring pro- 

 cess. It is important, also, to cultivate and fertilize the land well. Mulch- 

 ing may be used as a substitute for cultivation where the trees are closely 

 planted. It is also important to thin the fruit in many varieties. Varieties 

 should be freely mixed in planting, as it is now well established that the 

 flowers are not fertile to their own pollen. 



The Americana plums are chiefly used for culinary purposes, but 

 they sell well. We have not yet grown enough of them to test the capacity 

 of our local markets. The past two seasons we have received as much 

 for our plums as good Michigan peaches sold for in our market. The 

 quantity of these plums that may be sold is large. Many families order 

 a bushel, and we have sold as much as six bushels to one party for hotel 

 use. The native plums are rapidly becoming staple fruits in the markets 

 of the northwest. 



Member: I would like to know if you succeeded in growing a great 

 many plums that were worthless? If you did so. what did' you do with 

 them? Did you use the stalks for grafting, or did you destroy them en- 

 tirely? 



Professor Goff: We did, of course. We are extensively engaged in 

 growing seedlings from the best of those native plums. Of course, if the 

 seedlings were not fit to use for any purpose we need them for, we throw 

 them away. Sometimes we top-graft them, but we generally throw them 

 away. 



Mr. Kingsbury: I did not understand you to say what the proper 

 distance was to plant them apart? 



Professor Goff: We have recently planted an experimental orchard 

 for commercial purposes; but we are growing them as an experiment. 

 We planted them twelve feet apart, with the expectation of taking them 

 out, one-half of them, after beginning to crowd. After thinking the mat- 

 ter over carefully, we thought that was the wise thing to do, because I 



