78 THE PLUM IN KANSAS. 



A. M. Dull, Washington, Washington county. I have thirty-five plum 

 trees in bearing, planted six years: they are Wild Goose, Pottawatomie, Wolf, 

 and De Soto. The best bearers are Wild Goose and Pottawatomie. My soil is 

 upland prairie, sloping to the north. Planted my trees 10x1.5 feet. We use all 

 the fruit at home. I have tried one wild variety, but found it to be a poor 

 bearer. Have never grown, budded or grafted my own trees. If planting over, 

 I would set out Wild Goose, Pottawatomie, and perhaps one or two other varie- 

 ties; would plant them in a block, and when they come into bearing I would 

 fence, and turn in the chickens, as I think they would destroy the curculio and 

 other insects. My neighbors grow a few plums. Do not consider them a good 

 paying crop in this locality. 



W. D. Cellar, Edwardsville, Wyandotte county. I have 1200 plum trees 

 in bearing, planted from four to nine years. The varieties are: American class — 

 Wild Goose and Miner; Japanese class — Abundance, Burbank, Red June, and 

 also a few Damson. The Wild Goose do best for me; of the Japanese varieties 

 the Abundance and Burbank are the best bearers. My soil is a hazel bottom, 

 with clay subsoil, sloping towards all directions. I plant fifteen feet both ways. 

 When gathering I shake them on the ground or on sheets, and market in twenty- 

 four-quart crates and one-third-bushel boxes; in Kansas City and towns in Mis- 

 souri, Kansas and Colorado they usually bring from 50 cents to $1.50 per crate, 

 or 25 to 75 cents per one-third-bushel box. I always grow, bud and graft my 

 own trees. If I were going to do it all over again, I would plant as I now grow, 

 excepting only a few Miners to fertilize, and none at all of this variety if I could 

 find a better fertilizer for Wild Goose. My neighbors grow plums to some ex- 

 tent. I consider them a good paying crop. 



F. Holsiiiger, Rosedale, Wyandotte county. Of the many varieties tried, 

 few have succeeded. Those that give the best — I might say the only satisfac- 

 tion — are the Chickasaw varieties; of these, the Pottawatomie stands first. The 

 Wild Goose during past few years was among the best. Owing to the attack of 

 insect enemies, the curculio and gouger, plum growing has become precarious. 

 Of European sorts, I know of none that are worth planting; of Japanese sorts, all 

 save one (Gold) have succumbed to the severity of winter; but for the occasional 

 severe winters, plum growing would succeed, providing sufficient care was exer- 

 cised to fight the insects. Jarring affords best protection — use of sheets upon 

 which the curculio and gouger fall when the tree is suddenly jarred; then pick- 

 ing them into bottles they are easily destroyed by scalding. Unless you are in- 

 tending to follow out the best methods of fighting insects, you will find plum grow- 

 ing unsuccessful ; for while you may produce this fruit in abundance, it will be 

 unsatisfactory and unsalable because of its faulty condition. 



