156 Missouri State Horticultural Society. 



I don't say these few kinds that do well for us are entirely free 

 from this pest, yet some say it is curculio proof. It may be in 

 some localities. Our Wild Goose and Miner are of the Chickasaw 

 family. It is proven and demonstrated as a fact, the few kinds I 

 speak of are the only kinds that do well. The fruit shipped to 

 market by the thousands of boxes from this and nearly all this 

 western country, the Wild Goose Plum stands at the head of the 

 list. Some may not say so. I think they do. It originated in 

 Davidson county, Tennessee, and derived its name from the fact 

 that the pit of a plum was found in the crop of a wild goose, and 

 was planted, producing this variety. The tree is a free bearer, 

 very vigorous grower, hardy, very productive and the plums are 

 very beautiful to the sight, color, crimson red, quality, good; while 

 the others I mentioned are good and in some respects better. You 

 all can rest content that we will have no plum famine while these 

 few are not much molested with the curculio. 



These kind are now planted in nearly every yard and orchard 

 in town and country, while nearly all plum growers in this sec- 

 tion make these few a specialty. I think now at the rate these 

 few kinds have been planted of late years the market must be then 

 overstocked with these kind of plums. It is so in some localities 

 now, producing more than can be disposed of. The question is with 

 me what will be done with the surplus, as it is they are not good 

 dried or evaporated nor preserved, as they are too soft a nature 

 when ripe. If they were like the California varieties that are sold 

 by nearly every fruit dealer in our land, they could be evaporated, 

 preserved and crystalized. They are producing more than the 

 market wants or they can make now more to evaporate and j)re- 

 serve. Even this year a large quantity are evaporated and 

 preserved as the American Manufacturing Company have sold this 

 year many American evaporators out there to evaporate and pre- 

 serve plums, prunes and apricots. 

 Swan 



In our locality they sold over one hundred No. 3 evaporators, 

 capacity fifty bushels per day each, for this purpose alone. This 

 fruit, when so treated, brings twenty to twenty-five cents per 

 pound, at wholesale, in the eastern market. It is admitted that 

 they have as good plums, prunes, etc., as can be grown anywhere 

 in the United States. If our plums could be treated as the Cal- 

 ifornia plums are, then we would be all right when we get a surplus. 



The plums that we have are good, but not good enough for all 

 j)urposes. We should use every means to produce better kinds, in 



