PLUMS AND CHERRIES. 67 



are those who have been enjoying this fruit for many 5'ears, and we 

 feel sure that they will all bear us out in the assertions we have 

 made. 



There are now many varieties, but the one that has made the repu- 

 tation for reliabilitj^ that the Duchess has among- apples, is the De- 

 sota. It is about two weeks later in ripening- than the average wild 

 plum, and is a full size larger than the very largest wild plum the 

 writer has ever seen. But,perhaps,the most remarkable improvement 

 over the wild plum is in the peculiar peach-like flavor and meati- 

 ness of its flesh. The wild plum, when ripe, is usually but a bag of 

 juice, and almost impossible to get to market in good condition, while 

 the Desota is so firm that one of the common uses made of it in the 

 family of the writer is to pare raw and eat w^ith cream and sugar; 

 and there is no dovibt that it might easily be marketed in any of the 

 nearer cities. In its habit of regular and full bearing it is also a 

 great advance upon the wild plum. 



Although a tree that will endure great hardships, it will not give 

 give full satisfaction without rational treatment. We decidedly 

 prefer small trees for planting, and, if convenient, a north exposure 

 or slope. The ideal method of setting for a large orchard is in dou- 

 ble rows running north and south; that is, we should plant two 

 rows ten feet apart and trees ten feet apart in the row, and, then, 

 about thirty feet from these rows plant two more rows like the first, 

 and so on. The thirty feet strip between the thickly planted rows 

 gives enough circulation of air and may be put into garden crops 

 and potatoes. The double rows should receive cultivation or a heavy 

 mulch, and raspberries might with advantage be raised among 

 them for several years. All root sprouts should be rigidlj^ kept 

 down, as, of course, all grass and weeds. Branch the trees at about 

 two and one-half feet from the ground; beyond this do not be 

 tempted to do any trimming," except the shortening in of branches 

 that may grow too rank and top heavy for the stem, as all stone 

 fruits in our climate seem to do better if grown with thick, bushy 

 heads. 



There are several other good varieties besides the Desota. The 

 Forest Garden is fully as large a fruit and two weeks earlier in 

 ripening, but it is quite soft and waterj', and the tree ver}^ liable to 

 split down in the crotches; it is well worth planting and is com- 

 monly found in the nurseries. The Chenej^ Wolf, Rollingstone and 

 Rockford are all good sorts, not quite as generally tried. 



We may seem to have drawn a rather rosy picture of plum grow- 

 ing in Minnesota, but propose to mislead no one, and will here give 

 the benefit of all the drawbacks and difficulties that have come to 

 the knowledge of the writer. The Desota does not stand extreme 

 drouth as well as could be wished. In such seasons, the fruit will 

 be much smaller than usual, and its quality will also be impaired. 

 For the same reason, it is not the best variety to plant in sandy 

 soils. We think the Rockford will be better to plant in soils badly 

 affected by drouth. Some varieties, especially the Desota, are in- 

 clined to set too much fruit, more than they can properly mature. 

 Three years ago our trees seemed to have more fruit than leaves on 

 their branches, and as a result the fruit was small and ill-flavored, 



