80 ANNUAL REPOET 



memorable Christmas, was sufUcient tribute to pay to tliis particular branch of hor- 

 ticulture. It is time, however, that all that is known about them as adapted to our 

 present wants, be brought out and placed on record in our reports as a ready refer- 

 ence for those who may wish to grow them, and I shall Ije glad to contribute what I 

 can to this end 



Okigin. — Prunus domestica, or what has usually l)een known as the cultivated 

 plum is supposed to have come from Asia Minor, but as well as the varieties of this 

 class are too tender for this climate. We must confine ourselves to our native varie- 

 ties of which there are said to be two distinct classes, 1st, P — Americana or com- 

 mon native plum found growing from Maine to California, and too well known to 

 need describing. 2nd P — Chicasa, or Chicasaw plum, a native of the S. W. States ; 

 l)ut claimed by some to be hardy at the north, which is doubtful, however. 



Tlie "Wild Goose" belongs to this class, and is known to be tender, even in north- 

 ern Iowa. It is claimed for some of our hardy kinds that they belong to this class, 

 hut my impression is that they all probably l)elong t,o P Americana, and it is this 

 class of plums I wish mainly to consider. It is but a few years since any thought 

 was given to their improvement, and perhaps the first that called attention to the 

 development of new varieties was their hardiness and comparative exemption from 

 the ravages of the curculio. Propagation — Plums are usually grafted on seedling 

 roots, the same as apples, but it will not pay to use more than the crown graft — that i^ 

 the first few inches of the root from where the top begins, as they start less freely 

 than the apple and need the most (avorable conditions for uniting and growth, 

 Wlien on their own roots they may also be propagated from root cutting, but graft- 

 ing or budding is preferable as it enhances theii' earl}^ productiveness and certain it 

 is that there is no dependence to be placed in seedlings from the pit. Roots for 

 grafting may be raised, by procuring pits before dry and mix with damp sand, wlien 

 cold weather comes submit them to alternate freezing and thawing. In the spring, 

 if any are not cracked open they should be cracked with a hammer, before planting 

 tliis will insure greater evenness in the rows, they may then be cultivated like other 

 seedlings. Ycung seedling trees can be budded in August, or grafted very early in 

 spring, and if done in season large trees may be successfully, top worked. Soil. — 

 Any soil that is well dnimed is suitable for the plum. Orchard cultivation; 1st, they 

 should be set one rod apart each way, and like every thing else, to do well should be 

 thoroughly cultivated, and he who plants them in a cramped place, near large soft 

 maples or other trees that already occupy the ground or in the sod need not expect 

 much fruit. Pruning — They do not require much pruning except to head back the 

 long protruding limbs to make them throw out laterals, and form a round top that 

 will net split to pieces with heavy crops of fruit or blow off, with hard winds, cur- 

 culio. While it is true that P Americana is comparatively free from disease and 

 the ravages of the curculio, it maj' be well to note that thorough cultivation is one 

 of the best ways to prevent the working of this little pest. It is also recommended 

 that to smoke the tree with coal tar two or three times a week, during the fruiting 

 season will keep the beetle and all other insects off. In the cool of the day they may 

 be jared off on a sheet and so caught and killed. With us, however, they have 

 never done much injury, and we have never paid any attention even to the few 

 grubs we occasionally eat with the fruit unawares, thinking that if they can stand it 

 we can. 



