INDIANA HORTICTTLTURAL SOCIETY. 197 



newer varieties are of much value, and may be the means of improving 

 the quality and production of this kind of fruit. 



The economic feature in commercial plum growing claims a share of 

 consideration. The fruit grower would not be expected to continue in 

 any line of operation that would entail a loss. If the orchardist should 

 neglect his orchard on account of the loss financially, the public should 

 not be too severe in its criticism. But if the varieties grown could be 

 improved upon by renewed planting or the fruit itself bettered by methods 

 followed during its development, the results might be different. But when 

 the many obstacles in extensive plum culture are known, a better idea 

 may be had of the success of the enterprise. 



With a good orchard, a few crops at farthest is all that is expected 

 to be grown. The life of a plum tree is usually not very long. The trees 

 are easily injured by the winds and from overbearing; the bodies check 

 and decay and the limbs blight. The texture of the heart-wood is coarse 

 and brittle, lacking the strength of fruit trees generally. The leaves and 

 twigs are subject to the ravages of fungous diseases and the larvae of 

 many insects make inroads in the green foliage. 



The thorough and systematic use of the sprayer is acknowledged 

 everywhere. Poisonous solutions to be applied ere the buds fairly burst, 

 and extending till a time when possibility of attacks of insect enemies 

 are past. The expensive solutions, together with the appliances, with the 

 time required in mixing and applying the same, affect directly the eco- 

 nomic phase of plum culture, and are of vital importance in securing a 

 crop of j)erfect fruit. 



It is conceded, however, that the time and money expended in spray- 

 ing is amply repaid in the yield of fruit, and although some plums are 

 considered curculio proof, it has been found that those who fail to spray 

 are not always sure of a crop of fi-uit. 



Admitting the life of a plum tree to be short, it has been found diffi- 

 cult to grow many good consecutive crops from the same trees, even at 

 the stage of best bearing gi-owth and condition. Some are good annual 

 bearers, others shy. Too many bear each alternate summer. Others 

 yield three or four good crops out of a possible ten. A few varieties are 

 annual bearers, generally of a small yield with an occasional heavy crop 

 during the fruiting era. 



In considering the eastern part of the State, as a fruit producing dis- 

 trict, it can be safely said that at present the growing of the plum on a 

 commercial scale has not been entirely satisfactory, and from the results 

 of years of experience of some of our fruit men in the cultivation of this, 

 one of the most important kinds of fruits, it is shown that it can not be 

 as economically and successfully grown as desired. 



President Stevens: Quince culture has not been on our program for 

 several years. Mr. Grossman, will it pay to plant quinces on a large 

 scale for market in northern Indiana? 



