MINNESOTA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 65 
think I know something of the history of the Miner. On the river 
bottoms of Illinois there grows a small, bitter plum, that after lay- 
ing away for some time, becomes agreeable in flavor. The leaf is 
like a peach leaf, and | think I should know the plums derived 
from this species by the leaf alone. All Miners here are from this 
species. I also have the Wild Goose, which also belongs to this 
species, and is as tender as a peach. Some variety of the same 
species stands on Mr. Gideon’s place, and is called the Miner. 
These have stood the winter, but the fruit undergoes the same 
change in keeping. 
Mr. Dartt :—The genera! reputation of the Miner is variable, and 
it is, therefore, wrong to recommend it for general cultivation. I 
move to amend so as to recommend for trial instead of general 
cultivation. 
Mr. Jewell :—Have never known the Miner to kill after the first _ 
year. Doubt Mr. Jordan’s ability to tell the Miner by the leaf 
alone. 
Mr. Smith :—Think the diversity of opinion due to whether the 
tree is a genuine Miner or nol. I got six trees from Mr. Sherman, 
of Rockford, Ill., and these six trees proved to be of six different 
varieties. I afterwards got some for a friend from Mr. Vail, and 
he showed beautiful fruit produced from these last summer. We 
should not discard the var kety because the tree is not always 
genuine. 
Mr. Grimes :—The Miner is from the Chickasaw plum, of which 
there are many varieties that cannot be distinguished by the leaf 
alone. It is tender only when young, and after that hardy. Mr. 
Gideon’s are not Miners, as he himself confessed when he saw 
mine. 
Mr. Jordan :—All the so-called Miners are similar in leaf, and so 
much like the Sloe as to show their parentage. I got mine from 
Mr. Miner himself. 
Mr. Carter :—I have three old trees, and hence supposed to be 
genuine. The leaf is not like a peach leaf. Know no wild plum 
that is hardier. The best plum grown in Minnesota. 
Mr. Philips :—I obtained six Miner plums from three different 
men, and one of them proved genuine. 
Mr. Carter :—Before it is ripe the fruit is a magenta color, and 
when fully ripe, crimson. 
Mr, Hart :—My experience is that it is worthless in Minnesota. 
The Miner plum was then recommended for trial by a vote of 13 
for and four against. 
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