54 THE PLUM IN KANSAS. 



Curculio and other insects, such as we have, do not aid in developing 

 perfect plums, but rather have a tendency to destroy the plum. The 

 characteristics of the Sand-hill plums are such as to ward against de- 

 struction by insects and fungi. The skin is very thick, which pro- 

 tects against enemies and results to a greater degree in the perfect 

 ripening of that species of fruit. 



Let some of our experiment stations try grafting some of our Sand- 

 hill plums on the more rapidly growing plum stocks and see if the tree 

 will not be better adapted to bearing through every season than it 

 otherwise would. The young grafts in that case would not die for 

 lack of sustenance ; while, with the contrary method of grafting the 

 rapidly growing plum, it does not receive sustenance enough from the 

 Sand-hill jjlum stock to keep it alive. 



I have a great deal of faith in the Sand-hill plum as being the best 

 adapted to this climate of any plum in existence, and believe that ex- 

 periments should be made toward finding out what kind of stock will 

 best nourish it. If a plum tree that is not disposed to cast sprouts 

 should be top-grafted all through its head with the Sand-hill plum, 

 the chances are that it would bear fruit every year, as the Sand-hill 

 plum very seldom fails to bear a crop ; and, so far as my observation 

 goes, it is not affected by the curculio as the American plum and 

 other plums are. 



Note. — The paper was discussed by Messrs. Barnes, Lux, Harrison, and 

 others. The general result of the discussion was to the effect that a plum tree 

 that is a vigorous grower but a shy bearer should not be cut down, bu left to 

 grow for the benefit to be deri-ved from it in the pollen that will be carried from 

 it to the other trees in the orchard, as trees which are excellent bearers are often 

 deficient in pollen, and need to have pollen carried to them from some other tree 

 that bears plenty of it. — Secretary. 



MISCELLANEOUS NOTES. 



We gathered the following short articles from various sources. In 

 most cases they record actual experiences, and the plum grower will 

 find something worth remembering in every one of them : 



PLANTING TREE SEEDS. 



. Apple seed and plum and cherry pits can be kept in the cellar in condition to 

 grow, with proper attention to watering. But in any ordinary dry cellar the sand 

 gets too dry to prepare the seeds for germinating the first season. It is much 

 safer to bury outside where they will have regular moisture and more or less 

 freezing and thawing. It is also safe to plant these seeds and pits in the fall, if 

 properly managed. Cover the seed at least three inches deep, in drills, by 

 mounding two inches above the surface. Early in spring rake off the mound, 

 leaving the seed one inch deep ,with a mellow surface for a seed-bed. In this 

 way the surface is not packed, and the plants will make larger growth the first 

 season than we secure with spring planting. — Prof. J. L. Budd. 



