THE PLUM AND CHERRY ORCHARD DURING MARCH AND APRIL. 85 



A few words more about the plum borer. If we find a tree 

 badly infested with them it is of but little use to attempt to dig them 

 out; better chop the tree down and graft a root sprout for a new 

 tree. 



If the weather is quite warm during the latter part of April the 

 tent caterpillar larvae begin to hatch out and immediately go to 

 work spinning their tent. This is the best time to get after them, 

 as the shiny webs can be seen a long distance, since the trees at this 

 time are bare of foliage. 



I suppose that something might be said here about the plum 

 gouger and the curculio, but I have had no actual experience com- 

 batting them until after the blossoms have fallen, and this always 

 takes us here until some time in May. 



Mr. W. L. Taylor : What three plums would you recommend 

 for a commercial orchard ? 



Mr. Dewain Cook : For commercial purposes I would take the 

 freestone Wolf first, for the second either the Hawkeye or the 

 Stoddard — they are nearly alike — and the third — I don't know. 

 (Laughter). I am just speaking of the matter as far as profits go 

 in growing them. 



Mr. A. Brackett: Have you had any experience with the Sur- 

 prise ? 



Mr. Cook : Yes, but not enough to pass an opinion upon it. 



Mr. C, F. Gardner (Iowa) : What was the first one he named? 



Mr. Cook: The freestone Wolf. There are two, the large 

 clingstone Wolf and the freestone Wolf. 



Prof. Green : In regard to the differentiation between the large 

 freestone Wolf and the clingstone Wolf — is it a distinct variety? 



The President : I would like to have the difference explained. 

 I want to ask a question to start with. The Wolf is the most dis- 

 tinct of any of our native varieties of plums; will you tell us ex- 

 actly the difference between the two? 



Mr. Cook : The clingstone Wolf is a stronger grower, the 

 fruit is larger, and it is sweeter and generally of a lighter color; it 

 will sell in the market a little better than the freestone, but I rec- 

 ommended the freestone on account of its growing quality and its 

 fine color. It is a dark red before it is ripe and has a very small 

 pit. It is not the best for home use with me. 



Prof. Green : Don't people like it on account of that small pit ? 



Mr. Cook : I don't know that they pay any attention to that. 



Mr. Geo. W. Strand : I did not say anything about spraying 

 because that is done in May, but I think it is necessary to spray 

 in Minnesota, although not so much so, perhaps, as in some eastern 

 states. 



Prof. S. B. Green : Mr. Strand refers to spraying as being 

 something that ought to come later in the season. There is one 

 place where I think spraying ought to be done in the spring of the 

 year, and that is in the case of plums where they are badly troubled 



