STATE HOETICULTURAL SOCIETY. 575 



The Iowa Agricultural College, under Prof. Budd, has accomp- 

 lished more thauany other public institution. The experiments 

 there appear to have been directed in selecting from all parts of 

 the country such varieties as give the best promise, and care- 

 fully observing their comparative habits of growth, qualities of 

 fruit and their adaptability to general cultivation. 



One of the practical results is the conclusion that no better 

 varieties are known than some that are found growing wild along 

 the Mississippi Eiver in Wisconsin and Minnesota, and along the 

 Missouri in Iowa. The Northern Iowa Horticultural Society, 

 however, recommend "one or two Chickasaws. The Miner is the 

 only one that has been planted to any extent further north, but 

 its lateness and irregular habit of bearing will not allow it to be 

 compared favorably with some of the northern kinds. Several 

 other Chickasaws, that succeed further south, have been tried 

 here, but are short lived. Among those that have attracted un- 

 usual attention are the Mariana, the Eobinson, the Neuman, and 

 from several quite extensive exj)eriments in cropping the 

 northern plum with the Chickasaws. No marked satisfactory 

 new kinds have been brought to general notice. Mr. J. B. 

 Eogers suggests that the best results may be expected from 

 Gi'opping the different varieties of the same family of northern 

 kinds and not attemj^ting to do so with the Europeans. 



If one can afford to wait, a good way to raise this desirable 

 fruit is to plant the seed of the kind desired. If the seed is from 

 a natural tree, and isolated, the fruit will be like the parent. 

 Trees of some varieties will begin to bear at three or four years 

 of age. 



For successful grafting the work must be done as soon as the 

 frost is out of the ground in the spring, sometimes a short delay 

 will prove disastrous. Quite large trees may be transplanted 

 without injury, if the top is well cut back. Sprouts from the 

 roots will invariably produce the same kind of fruit as the par- 

 ent. The largest, finest, best fruit will be produced where the 

 ground is naturally rich or well cultivated. In regard to varie- 

 ties, it is possible that just as good may be found growing wild 

 as any that are yet brought to notice, but several kinds have 

 been so thoroughly tested as to bearing, character of tree, and 

 habits of growth, etc., that it is desirable to select from them 

 rather than risk those that have not been tried. Whatever the 

 soil or location, any one would be safe to plant the kinds recom- 

 mended by the State Horticultural Society, bearing in mind that 



