6 THE PLUM IN KANSAS. 



most desirable of all. Peach stocks, used in the past to some extent, 

 are now seldom propagated upon. All trees grown on Chickasaw 

 stock are inclined to sucker. Plums of the (lortiestlca group grafted 

 upon native stocks are said to grow so poorly as to overtop the stock, 

 and become liable to injury from strong winds. 



Grafting and Budding : Crown grafting is recommended by most 

 of the experiment stations. The scions should be cut in the fall, 

 three or four buds to each. Put in the scions early in the spring, 

 before there are any signs of the buds starting. Budding must be 

 done while the stocks are at the period of their most vigorous growth, 

 provided sufficiently matured buds can be found, which is usually 

 soon after midsummer. If deferred, the bark will not peel freely 

 and the buds will not adhere. 



Cultivation : The best soil, usually, is a strong, rich, clayey loam. 

 On many light soils the tree grows with less vigor, independently of 

 which the crop is more frequently destroyed by the curculio, a per- 

 vious soil affording a more ready place of shelter for the young in- 

 sects on their escape from the fallen fruit. A few varieties are well 

 adapted to rather dry as well as light lands. Applications of potash 

 and ground bone, as usual with other fruits, is of advantage in in- 

 creasing the fruitfulness of the plum. In planting orchards a suitable 

 distance is one rod apart, giving 160 trees to the acre. The ground 

 should be manured and kept well cultivated, as the plum, especially 

 when young, is sensitive to the effects of the weeds and grass of 

 neglected culture. 



Impotency : It is well known that some of the native varieties are 

 so deficient in fertile pollen tliat they are almost incapable of fertiliz- 

 ing themselves. It is therefore advised that trees of the domesUca 

 class be planted with them, mixing them in the rows or groups. 



Classification : With but comparatively few exceptions the varie- 

 ties of plums grown in gardens and for commercial purposes may be 

 included in five groups. As this work aims to be of a practical rather 

 than scientific character, these only will be considered. They are : 



1. The nmericana group {P. (onericana). Comprises a class of 

 hardy, vigorous young trees, the wild forms of which are found grow- 

 ing throughout the Northern states. The fruits differ widely in all 

 their characteristics. 



2. The Wild Goose group {P. horti'lana). This class has here- 

 tofore been included in the (nitericann, but it has recently been sepa- 

 rated by Professor Bailey into an independent group, and includes 

 the Miner type. 



3. The Chickasaw group (/-*. n'7i*/w,s/!//(?Z/'7). It is found growing 

 wild in the Southern states. 



