70 THE PLUM IN KANSAS. 



and have not had wormy fruit. The poultry-house and yard was near the 

 orchard, and that may be the reason why the fruit was free from worms. 



E. M. Gray, Perry, Jefferson county. In 1890 I planted an orchard of 300 

 plum trees, consisting of Wild Goose, Burbank, Abundance, Wickson, Red June, 

 Weaver, Green Gage, and Blue Damson. The three first named did best for me 

 on high, dry or well drained upland. I got no plums unless by clean cultivation. 

 I found when I did not keep the ground clean of weeds or grass, my plums, just 

 before ripening, rotted on the trees. I spray with Paris green and lime. I sell 

 in berry crates at $1.50 per crate for choice, and $1 per crate for No. 2. 



E. P. Dielil, Olathe, Johnson county. I have thirty plum trees in bear- 

 ing, planted from ten to thirty years. The varieties are W^ashington, Damson, 

 Blue Gage, Wild Goose, Miner, and Chickasaw. Of these, the best bearers are 

 Wild Goose, Miner, and Chickasaw. My soil is a black loam, sloping towards the 

 north. Plant my trees sixteen feet apart, gather when ripe, and market in 

 one-third-bushel baskets; sell in Olathe. They usually bring from sixty cents 

 to one dollar per bushel. The Chickasaw is the only wild variety I have 

 tried. I have grown, budded and grafted my own trees. If I were beginning 

 again, I would plant Wild Goose, Miner, Damson, and Chickasaw. My neighbors 

 grow very few plums. I consider them a good paying crop in this locality. 



J. C. Beckley, Spring Hill, Johnson county. I have fifteen plum trees 

 in bearing, which have been planted from eight to ten years. They are Wild 

 Goose, W^eaver, and German Prune. The Weaver and German Prune are the 

 best bearers. Of the Japanese varieties I have tried Abundance, which does very 

 well, but is a little tender. It froze during the winter of 1898-'99. My soil is 

 dark mulatto, sloping to the west. I plant two-year- old trees, fourteen feet apart. 

 Gather in [grape?] baskets; sell at Spring Hill, receiving twenty- five cents per 

 basket for them. I have tried several wild varieties and found them excellent, 

 and do n't know but that they are as good as domesticated varieties. Have 

 grown, budded and grafted my own trees. If planting over, I would set out 

 Wild Goose, Weaver, Miner, Lombard and Damson sixteen feet apart in an or- 

 chard, giving good cultivation for four or five years; then keep clean surface un- 

 der the trees to prevent insects from harboring there. Would treat about the 

 same as cherry trees. My neighbors grow a few plums. I consider them a good 

 paying crop in this locality. 



J. C Beokley, Spring Hill, Johnson county. This desiraVjle fruit has 

 not been as extensively planted in the state as it ought to have been, because of 

 the damaging attacks of both the curculio and gouger (worms in the fruit ), yet some 

 facts have been gathered from the observations and experience of planters which 

 encourage the hope that reasonable success may attend future efforts in their 

 culture. Two classes have been used, viz.: Those of foreign origin and their off- 

 spring, and those of native origin, which differ much in character. The trees of 

 the foreign class are not so hardy, productive or long-lived as our natives, and, 

 while the fruit is vastly superior, their planting cannot be advised for extensive 

 orchards. There are some of the native class which are quite successful, and of 

 which it is quite safe to plant; the trees are hardy and produce crops of good 

 fruit, which is less injured by the curculio and plum-gouger. Spring is undoubt- 

 edly the best time for planting, and those planters who live within reasonable 

 distance of a reliable nursery had better obtain the trees in the spring, as there 

 is too much loss in most cases, when procured in the autumn and heeled in, by 

 mice, rabbits, dry freezing, and shriveling from becoming too dry during winter. 

 The plum tree does best where planted closely; twelve to fifteen feet is usually 



