THE PLUM IN KANSAS. 55 



A NEW METHOD OF GRAFTING. 



A friend in Oregon tells me that he has succeeded perfectly in grafting apples 

 and plums as early in the spring as possible, when they are in a dormant condi- 

 tion, by the following novel method: Supposing the seedlings were planted this 

 spring. Next spring he removes the earth to the depth of two to four inches 

 about the crown, and having a number of scions cut the proper length and slit- 

 ted, makes a slit in the crown of the stock as it stands in the ground, and slips 

 the scion in place. Then, without tying or waxing the graft, he draws the earth 

 carefully about the graft, packing it in firmly, leaving only the top of the graft 

 above the ground. He does not cut off the seedling stock which he has thus 

 grafted until the graft has grown several inches, thinking that the graft would 

 succeed better not to remove the top of the seedling thus grafted. He tells me 

 that he scarcely lost any grafts by this method. I see no reason why this plan 

 should not succeed as well here, and in other places, as in Oregon, providing the 

 soil is not too stifif and clayey. In order to succeed the soil should be in fine till, 

 and in the cultivation given later care must be taken not to disturb the graft. — 

 Greenes Fruit Grower. 



PLUMS A fROFITABLE FRUIT. 



A fruit-grower in northern Missouri related the following experience before 

 the Missouri State Horticultural Society: 



"In the spring of 1896 I planted about 500 plum trees. They are planted 

 on very high ground, sloping sharply to the north, with West Big creek on the 

 west less than forty rods, and East Big creek on the east less than eighty rods. 

 The land was originally what we call oak-opening land, but the oaks had been 

 cut many years ago, and it had grown up a second growth, which was cleared off 

 the winter before planting. But few trees were lost, and these were reset in 1897 

 and again filled in in 1898, so that now there are 520 plum trees. The ground 

 has been kept clean and well cultivated. The trees have made a good growth, 

 and some of them will bear a few plums this year. I planted very largely of the 

 Prunns domestica type, the Damson preponderating very largely, with a few of 

 the Japans and a very few of the (Dncrioana. I am now satisfied that if a mis- 

 take has been made at all in varieties it is in not planting enough Japans. The 

 reason for planting so few (only about thirty) was that at the time they were 

 planted none of the Japans, to my knowledge, had borne fruit in this county, but 

 since that some Abundance trees have borne fine fruit at an early age. At this 

 time the Abundance and Burbank are full of fruit, while the Satsuma, Willard 

 and the Yellow Japan have none, although the Sutsuma bloomed full. I planted 

 but few of the atnericaiia — only two or three of a kind and only a few varieties. 

 The reason was that I do not consider them profitable here, for, while they bear 

 abundantly, they do not command ready sale, the surplus from the scattered 

 trees almost supplying the local demand. They do not seem solid enough to 

 stand long shipments; they are not so rich or so good when cooked as the do- 

 mestica, and the trees do not seem to grow or bear any better. 



"From observation, I believe that the Damson will be the best douiestica 

 plum here for profit, and for that reason have planted more of them than of any 

 other variety. After them are those of similar habits, and that seemingly have 

 Damson blood in them, such as the Richland; also the Lombard, Bradshaw and 

 similar strains have all grown and borne well here. Of the Damsons I have fifty 

 Shropshires — fine growers, and bid fair to bear young; also fifty common Dam- 

 sons. Then I have 100 of a variety of the Damson for which no distinct name 

 is known, and never saw them anywhere except in this county. I could not find 

 them in any of the nurseries and had to plant sprouts. They are fine growers, 



