88 MINNESOTA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



cultivatiug the ground. It cleaned up everything in the way 

 of insects, and they always raised a good crop. So far as I have 

 seen, it works well. 



Pres. Underwood: "What part do the fowls play in the suc- 

 cess of the plum? 



Mr. Jewett: They cultivate the ground and pick up the in- 

 sects; at any rate the trees were loaded with fruit. They 

 kept that "little Turk" cleaned out entirely. 



Mr. Brackett: I planted my plum orchard on the north side 

 of my poultry yard. My plum trees are not in bearing yet, but 

 it was recommended to me. They keep the ground stirred up 

 under the trees, and I think when they come into bearing it 

 will be a great help. I do not think they will need any culti- 

 vation at all after they come into bearing. 



Prof. Green: I want to say something about that matter. I 

 know a great many cases where that thing has been a decided 

 success. I know of one case in Massachusetts, at a time when 

 it was almost out of the question to grow plums on account of 

 the curculio, where the trees were planted in the chicken yard 

 they were nearly always successful. 



Dr. Frisselle: I heard a gentleman say a little while ago 

 that he attributed his success in plum growing to the fertilizing 

 they received from his fowls, and he had the very finest crop. 

 They pick up all the bugs and the worms; but he thought the 

 manure left on the ground had a very sensible and valuable 

 eifect. 



Mr. Sampson: I would like to ask if currants are not bene- 

 fitted by being in a hen yard? I believe chickens running 

 around currant bushes are beneficial. 



Mr. Harris: They will not eat the currant w^orm. but I 

 believe the chicken is valuable in a great many kinds of fruit. 

 There are insects that poultry will not eat if you feed them 

 plenty of grain. 



QUESTION BOX. PLUMS. 



(QUESTION. 



"How can we originate better varieties of plums?" 



Mr. E. H. S. Dartt: Plant pits. 



Mr. J. S. Harris: Plant seed of the best varieties and then 

 pick out the most perfect seed of the best varieties, and keep 

 on doing so, and someday you will find out the influence of cul- 

 tivation and selection will improve a plum as much as other 

 fruits. 



