THE PLUM IN KANSAS. 71 



recommended: but my experience and observation teach me that they should 

 be planted closer than that, say eight to ten feet. Why ? Because we almost 

 invariably find our native wild plums growing in clumps, in order that those 

 weak in the fertilizing elements [pollen] will be benefited by the stronger [more 

 potent] ones. I am satisfied that is the reason why some plum trees which are 

 set too far apart bear little, if at all. 



Elevation is not a very important point in the culture of the plum, only as it 

 often furnishes the most desirable soil, which I think is more generally found in 

 the bottom lands. The plum likes a northern slope best, for the reason that it 

 loves damp, cool, moist, not wet, ground to grow in ; the foreign class requires a 

 rich, moist soil, underlaid with a stiff clay, and does better on upland; therefore 

 they are short-lived, as are all plum trees planted on high prairie land. The na- 

 tive class thrives best on a sandy soil, which is largely found on bottom land, and 

 such locations generally produce abundant crops. Good drainage is a very im- 

 portant factor in regard to the health of a plum tree. Where there is no natural 

 windbreak one should be provided, as by natvire it is almost invariably required. 

 In all cases the plum does best when worked on its own roots, although they 

 can be worked on the peach, but should be set deep to secure rooting from the 

 scion or bud, as the case may be; in planting, the roots should be wet. Some 

 foreign sorts that I budded on the peach are doing fine. I would not recommend 

 mulching, as it makes a harbor for injurious insects. Close planting is preferable? 

 as it keeps the ground shaded, and therefore cool and moist, beneficial both to 

 the tree and to retard, to some ejctent at least, the development of insects. Cul- 

 tivation should be shallow at all times, and none after they shade the ground 

 thoroughly. Pick before fully ripe, and, as they ripen unevenly, the trees will 

 have to be gone over several times. Pack in small baskets (I use small grape 

 baskets), which are more suitable than boxes, and will not bruise the fruit as 

 much; put only good, sound fruit in the baskets, and feed all that is wormy and 

 faulty to the hogs. There has never been enough grown for the home market in 

 Kansas yet. They should be handled about the same as cherries and peaches. 



C. H. Long"Streth, Lakin, Kearny county. I have 200 plum trees in bear- 

 ing, which have been planted ten years. The varieties are Wild Goose, Robinson, 

 Pottawatomie, Forest Rose, Weaver, Miner, Coe's Golden Drop, Newman, Abun- 

 dance, Burbank, Bailey, and a few others. Of these, the best bearers are Wild 

 Goose and Robinson. Pottawatomie is nearly as good. Of the Japanese varie- 

 ties, I have tried Abundance, Burbank, Bailey, Munson, and Satsuma. The Jap- 

 anese varieties have not given me satisfaction so far; Wild Goose and Robinson 

 are preferred to all others. My soil is a deep, sandy loam, nearly level. I plant 

 one-year-old trees in early spring, twelve feet apart, mixing varieties all together, 

 in order to poUenize well. Gather by hand, picking before too ripe, while still 

 hard; market in one-third-bushel peach crates, packed solid and firm; sell a few 

 at home, but in Denver as a rule, selling from 60 cents to SI. 2.5 per crate, netting 

 us on the average, one dollar per bushel. Have tried a few wild varieties, but 

 found only few good; most of them are worthless and unsatisfactory. Have 

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

 Goose and Robinson for commercial purposes and no others, excepting a few Jap- 

 anese and other varieties for experiment. My neighbors are growing plums. I con- 

 sider them a good paying crop in this locality when properly grown and handled. 



R. DeGariiio, Oswego, Labette county. The plum is one of the most valu- 

 able and perhaps one of the most salable of the stone fruits raised in this county, 

 seldom failing to make a paying crop, although raised mostly for home consump- 



