HORTICULTURE. 45 



Seedling, Manchester, Cumberland, Staymen No. 1, Gaudy, Jucunda 

 Improved, Lovett Early, Iowa Beauty, Eureka, Mitchell Early, Hav- 

 erland, and Jessie. 



The culture of native plums in the North-west, E. S. Goff ( Wis- 

 consin Sta. Bui. 63, pp. (17, figs. 32). — The native plums of the species 

 Primus americana are considered among- the hardiest of tree fruits. In 

 the winter of 1896-97, the tlower buds of the trees of this species were 

 entirely uninjured while the buds of varieties of Prunus domestica were 

 almost totally destroyed. The native plums are so productive as to 

 require thinning the fruit to prevent injury from overbearing. A figure 

 is given illustrating the tendency to overbear, and showing the effect 

 of thinning. In the opinion of the author the quality of the best native 

 plums is not inferior to that of the European plums, and reports of 

 several growers show that their market value is fully as great. The 

 propagation, culture, insect enemies, and diseases of the native plums 

 are considered. Notes are given on some 180 varieties of native plums. 

 In order to ascertain the cultural methods that are practiced in the 

 Northwest inquiries were circulated among the more successful plum 

 growers in that region. The replies are summarized in the bulletin. 



Notes on pruning, F. W. Card {NcbrasJca Sta. Bui. 50, pp. 10, jigs. 

 2). — An experiment was begun in the year 1895 to determine the best 

 time to prune apple trees, the best way of making the wounds, and the 

 best treatment of them. Two trees were pruned the first of every 

 month of the year. A few of the wounds on each tree were left rough 

 as made by a saw, and a few were made smooth with some cutting- 

 instrument, like the chisel. At each pruning some of the wounds, both 

 rough and smooth, were left untreated and others were treated with 

 the following preparations: Liquid grafting wax, shellac varnish, 

 white lead paint, pine tar, and coal tar. Notes are given explaining 

 the conditions under which the various primings were made. Obser- 

 vations were made on the condition of the wounds throughout the 

 year 1895, in the spring and autumn of 1896, and in the spring of 1897. 



On account of the poor condition of the trees used, it was impossible 

 to determine definitely the most favorable season of the year for prun- 

 ing. There were some indications, however, that the wounds made 

 during the growing season healed better than when made during the 

 winter. 



As to making wounds smooth or leaving them rough there was little 

 difference between the two methods, what there was being in favor of 

 rough pruning. The rough wounds seemed to heal slightly better, the 

 wood checked somewhat less, and the materials applied stayed on 

 slightly better. 



Although untreated wounds were found to heal as well as any, except 

 those covered with wax, they checked worst of all. In regard to the 

 various materials applied, the author says: 



"Taking all things together, nothing seeius to he hotter for covering the wounds 

 made in pruning than common lead paint, which is closely followed by grafting wax. 



