48 STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



Q. How about Lombard and Bradshaw? A. I have seen it in Lombard 

 but not in Bradshaw. 



Mr. Hale: Did you spray for that? 



Mr. Haight: Yes, before they leaved out at all, and until that spot 

 appeared. 



Mr. Barry: How long has this been known here? Is it more than two 

 years ? 



Mr. Haight: I couldn't say just exactly when I first saw it, but cer- 

 tainly I don't think it was further back than four years ago. Mr. Wan- 

 mer perhaps knows more about that than I. 



Mr. Waumer: I have noticed on a farm across the road from mine 

 this same thing; the first time I noticed it, it was on some yellow variety. 

 That was seven or eight years ago, and I worked the place for awhile and 

 gathered the fruit; and, as I say, the gum rubs off. Of course, on the 

 light-colored fruit it shoAvs this mark quite plainly, but the fruit sold 

 well. 



Mr. Gebhart: I don't think the cause can be laid to the curculio. I 

 have noticed it three years in my orchard. Two years ago, I had two 

 acres of German prunes, and 1 don't think there was one in the whole 

 lot that was not punctured. It was just enough to break the skin. I laid 

 it to an insect that stung or bit the fruit. The German prune is most 

 liable to injury. In the German i^rune, it begins before they commence 

 to color. Generally a little gum comes out, and that rubs off. In the 

 green plum you can see it. I don't know as it affects the dark-colored 

 fruit for the market, but it certainly does the green plums. 



Mr. Morrill: Then you are satisfied that it is the work of an insect? 



A. Yes, I have seen it three years, and I am satisfied that it is insect 

 work. Of course, as Mr. Gurney suggested, the curculio is the most 

 mischievous of all, but we can not lay it to him. We have sprayed before 

 and after, but it don't do any good. 



' Mr. Morrill: I would suggest that specimens of that puncture be sent 

 to Prof. Davis, at our own college, and give him an opportunity to study 

 the matter, and if it is of any consequence Mr. Davis would gladly come 

 here and studj^ it. 



Mr. Rice: M}- attention has never been called to this, but as I think 

 of it, I can remember that same little globule of gum on our plums, just 

 as it is described; I can remember having seen it for years. 



Mr. Morrill : I have been looking over the Report since you have been 

 talking, and I see that Prof. Davis has not taken the matter up, and 

 evidently- his attention has not been called to it. The investigation might 

 be valuable, and can be had without any expense. 



Mr. Markham : I have been in the plum business a number of years, 

 in a small way. I of course have made it a study, as much perhaps as any 

 one. I have tried all varieties. I had Lombards, because everyone said 

 they were the best. I say yet, that a careless man can raise Lombards; 

 but when it comes to fine, large, nice plums, you have to work. I have 

 Bradshaw, and in fact most of the varieties, and I grow my own trees, 

 and have done so for a number of years. I see that Mr. Willard, in his 

 letter, recommends planting Lombards, and then to top-graft with some- 

 thing else. I have a still better idea in my own mind that I am prac- 

 ticing considerably. Plant a peach tree and let it become three years 



