years ago. For twenty or more years they were heralded as the best possible, and it is 

 only within the last few years that they have found their level. But they were planted 

 promiscuously and over-planted, and the whole industry has suffered as a result. Most 

 of the varieties are not equal to the domesticas, and though the tide has found its 

 ocean level it will be some years yet before the results of the mistake are completely 

 obliterated. I do not mean to infer that the Japanese varieties have no place, but 

 that their place is not above the best domestica varieties. It might be said, too, that 

 early ripening domesticas (with the exception of Bradshaw or Niagara) have to a 

 certain extent been over-planted. Some are making money from them in a limited 

 way, but the majority are not. The best growers have of late been watching the ex- 

 panding markets, and the varieties now being planted are being more carefully 

 selected and for the markets of the near and distant future. 



Spraying^ Cultivation, etc. — The percentage of growers who spray and care 

 for their plum orchards as carefully as they spray and care for their other fruits is 

 very small indeed. The interest in their care is such that as a general rule the 

 trees are given such care and attention as time will permit after the other fruits 

 have received their special treatments. In very many cases the orchards are not 

 given any spray treatment after the dormant spray. Other applications would 

 necessitate special effort, and consequently the trees are left untreated. A small 

 per centage are more thorough and produce good fruits. The former and larger 

 percentage are as a consequence not getting the highest returns. The latter are 

 receiving returns commensurate with their efforts. The returns of the more careful 

 growers are quoted previously. 



Popularity of Other Fruits. — Plums are common property. They grow 

 almost everywhere and nearly all are familiar with their habits. They have not 

 been favored with heavy yields at high prices. When yields are heavy prices are low. 

 We have no big returns to quote for them as we have for the strawberry, the peach, 

 and the apple. At least we have not been quoting them. Their quality, flavor and 

 character is such that they do not appeal to the taste in sufficient degree to be 

 desired in the largest quantities. The production and consumption of prunes, dried, 

 is increasing yearly and making inroads on the fresh plum industry. The former 

 can be purchased from the provision merchant in any quantity, large or small, at 

 any time, whereas fresh plums must be canned or preserved at once or they will 



spoil. 



The plum must be of first-class quality and marketed in an attractive manner 

 if it is to hold its own with its natural competitors. 



(3) PLUM CULTURE OR CULTURAL METHODS. 



The history of plums and plum culture dates back to many years before Christ. 

 Plums were cultivated by the Greeks and Romans, and the pits or seeds were scat- 

 tered from this centre throughout Western Europe. Nor are all our common best 

 varieties products of modern civilization. Our best varieties are European importa- 

 tions or offshoots from them, and we have not a single variety evolved from our 

 native American species that is equal to them. The Japanese varieties are im- 

 portations, or have been produced from imported stock, and as yet not a single 

 variety has been produced that has maintained a permanent hold on the public— a 

 hold equal to that of the Peine Claudes, Prunes, and Damsons. 



In order to more thoroughly understand the discussion later it might be well 

 to outline a classification that covers the common varieties. Each class requires 

 somewhat special treatment or care, and it is well at the outset to make mention of 



