72 THE PLUM IN KANSAS. 



tioD, and not planted in commercial orchards. The most valuable of the kinds 

 raised here are of the native variety, such as the Wild Goose, Miner, Weaver, and 

 all of the Chickasaw varieties, while the foreign varieties that have been grown 

 here do not seem adapted to this climate and soil, and have not so far paid for 

 planting and cultivation. I will here give some of my own experience in raising 

 plums, and then I will speak by the book. Some eight years ago I planted here, for 

 family use, the following list of plum and apricot trees: Of Japanese varieties, 

 the Abundance, Satsuma, Burbank, Prunus sirnonii, and Botan: of the native 

 varieties, the Draper, Wild Goose, Wolf, and Blue Damson, and two varieties of 

 the White Chickasaw. Now for the results: Of the Japanese, all are dead but 

 the Abundance, which, in the eight years, have had one full crop, and they were 

 badly injured last winter, two being killed outright — the others recovered, and 

 are now full of buds in good condition. The plum we think the most of is the 

 small White Chickasaw, which has so far never failed to bear a good crop 

 since large enough to bear. This plum is rather small, yellowish-white, very 

 sweet, with small pit, skin hard and solid, and troubled but little with the cur- 

 culio. The Abundance is a fine, large plum, bears when young very freely; the 

 skin is rather soft and much more liable to the attack of the curculio than the 

 Wild Goose and Chickasaw. 



Geo. Hildretli, Altamont, Labette county. I have twenty \A\ivo. trees in 

 bearing, planted ten and twenty-five years. They are Wild Goose, Chickasaw, 

 and common wild. Of these, the wild and Wild Goose are the best bearers. 

 Have tried Japanese varieties, but found them unsuccessful. My soil is black 

 limestone, sloping towards the west. I plant from twelve to twenty feet apart. 

 Gather as soon as ripe and generally use the crop at home. I have tried several 

 wild varieties and find them excellent for butter and canning. Have never 

 grown, grafted or budded my own trees. If I were doing it all over again, I 

 would plant the Wild Goose and some wild varieties. There are some other 

 varieties that have done well for a while, but they perished soon. My neighbors 

 grow some plums for home use and a few to sell. I consider them a good paying 

 crop in this locality. 



N. Saiiford, Oswego, Labette county. I have ten plum trees in bearing, 

 some planted less than a year and some fifteen years. They are Small Damson, 

 Wild Goose, and Red Chickasaw. Small Damsons have been the most profitable 

 aud the best bearers, but are not likely to last over twelve to fifteen years. I am 

 of the opinion the plums will not do on our black limestone soil, which is al- 

 most level. I market my fruit, which usually brings $1.50 per bushel, at home. 

 I have never tried wild varieties. Have never grown, budded or grafted my own 

 trees. If I were planting over again, I would plant only the Small Damson. My 

 neighbors do not grow plums successfully. I do not consider it a good paying 

 crop in this locality. 



D. E. Bradstreet, Dighton, Lane county. I have twelve plum trees. 

 They are Marianna, Wild Goose, and Damson. The best bearer is the Marianna. 

 My land is a dark loam bottom land, level. I plant three in a cluster, clusters 

 seven feet apart [a new idea]. Gather the fruit when ripe. Have never grown, 

 grafted or budded my own trees. If planting over, I would set the trees [clus- 

 ters ?] ten feet apart. My neighbors grow a few. I do not consider them a good 

 paying crop in this locality. 



Dr. J. Stayniaii, Leavexworth, Leavenworth county. It is with some 

 degree of reluctance that I offer a paper upon the plum and prune for your forth- 

 coming pamphlet, not from want of experience, but that I have little to offer of 



