PLUMS. 89 



QUESTION. 



"From what source have our best native plums come?" 

 Mr, Dartt: From planting pits. 



QUESTION. 



"What is the best method of propagating plums?" 



Pres. Underwood: I believe that question has been answered 

 in Prof. Hansen's paper and in the remarks of Mr. Harris 

 and others. 



Mr. Harris: As I have talked about propagating plums by 

 root-cuttings, I wish Prof. Green would tell us how to make 

 the cuttings, how to plant, etc. 



Prof. S. B. Green: Prof. Hansen has had a great deal of 

 experience, let him answer that question. 



Prof. N. E. Hansen: The experience I have had is that some 

 varieties you can get that way and some you can't. The Minne- 

 sota are the easiest to get in that way. Take the surface roots, 

 cut them into pieces about six inches long, put them in sand 

 over winter and plant them right side up in the spring. Plant 

 them with a dibble is the way I have seen. Just the surface 

 roots; plant them in the spring. 



Mr. C. Wedge: What proportion will grow? 



Prof. Hansen: Some of them will not grow at all. The 

 Minnesota is the easiest in the lot. 



Pres. Underwood: Do you know of any plum except the 

 Minnesota that is propagated by root cutting? 



Mr. Harris: I had a little experience with the Cheney 

 plum at one time. The Cheney is very easy to propagate from 

 root cuttings; they nearly all grow, and nearly all make very 

 fine trees. My method was to search out the roots , cut them 

 three or four inches long, pack them in sand and leave them 

 until spring. Early in the spring I go along and stick them in 

 the ground so the top end is about a half inch under the 

 surface. 



Mr. A. D. Richardson: I have planted the Desota that way, 

 but I have never succeeded with it. 



Prof. Green: Mr. Ludlow put in five hundred cuttings, all 

 top cuttings of Mariana, and every one grew. He also put in 

 cuttings of the Desota and Rollingstone, and three or four 

 other varieties, but he did not get one. 



