386 MINNESOTA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 
sider changes of plans to suit circumstances, and a wise administration of 
men and women who work for principles, because we advance art in decora- 
tion, science in cultivating a million living gems of nature, as well as the 
philosophy of the songs of Solomon, ch. 8, verse 13, “Thou that dwellest 
in the gardens, the companions harken to thy voice. Cause me to hear it!” 
—and we earnestly wish many would respond, not only to that voice, but to 
the State Horticultural Society, and take membership with us. 
TREATMENT OF THE PLUM ORCHARD. 
O. W. MOORE, SPRING VALLEY. 
Writing upon this subject, I think it would be well to inquire what 
kind of soil is best adapted to the successful growing of the plum. This in- 
quiry can easily be answered by simply taking notice of the locality and 
soil where we find the plum growing in its native state in the northwest, 
which is almost invariably along our streams on the rich bottom lands, 
which seem to be the natural home of the plum. It is not to be expected 
that every man desiring a plum orchard can have the above local advan- 
tages for planting the same, but it is best to conform to the said conditions 
as near as possible. I don’t imagine that a plum orchard planted on an 
elevation of clay or gravel would be a very profitable investment. The 
economy of the plum is to take and utilize the wash from higher lands, 
whereby it is the gainer; but reverse the conditions, and it would surely be 
the loser. The plum in one respect is very much like some men that we 
might name, it is a great lover of riches. 
As to treatment after planting, it is best to cultivate the plat to hoed 
crops for six or seven years with a dressing of rotted manure each year, after 
which time the orchard can be seeded to clover and second or seed crop of 
clover left on the ground, which will renew the seeding each year—but the 
manure dressing should be kept up. 
My plum crop was good the past season, considering the age of the 
trees—no plum pocket whatever, and no green aphis. There was a light 
showing of black aphis late in the season, but they did no material damage. 
Tobacco smoke is sure death to the aphis. The curculio were somewhat 
troublesome on my Rockford and Ocheeda, which were the only varieties 
affected. 
The varieties that 1 have at present are as follows: Rockford, which 
is a strong and thrifty grower, hardy, early and prolific bearer and sometimes 
needs thinning. It is dark red color, with a fine blue biogm, of medium 
size, a clingstone, one of the best for domestic use. 
Ocheeda. A high grade plum; fruit of medium size; color yellowish 
red; thin skin with scarcely a trace of stringency. 
Hawkeye. Not as hardy as some others; liable to crack in wet weather; 
wood tender; will.not endure much heavy wind; a large showy fruit of fair 
quality, but too acid for some tastes. 
Stoddard. Hardy and a fine grower, with very strong shoulders and 
crotches. Fruit nearly as large as Hawkeye; color red, tinged with green; 
one of the latest to ripen. A coming plum; good for any kind of use to 
which it may be put. 
De Soto. The poorest growing tree that I have and decidedly the most 
inferior plum that I had in bearing this year. I don’t wish to give the De 
