230 The Canadian Horticulturist. 



PLUM GROWING IN THE COLD NORTH. 



t^ 



'I T the meeting of the Iowa State Horticultural Society, H. A. Terry, 

 V|^ of Crescent, who has done more than anyone in the State on the 

 introduction of our native American plum, said that for the pur- 

 pose of propagation, select a good, clean piece of ground, rich 

 enough to grow good corn, and prepare it in the best possible 

 manner. About October ist the land is prepared, giving it the 

 best cultivation. Make furrows about 2 inches deep and 2)^ feet 

 apart. The pits are planted immediately. Cover so as to level 

 the ground. The sooner the pits are planted after they are gathered the better 

 they will germinate. If not planted too thickly, they will be large enough to bud 

 the first season. The varieties best adapted for Southern Iowa are Milton, 

 Charles Downing, De Soto, Hammer, Jones, Hawkeye, Forest Rose, Cheney 

 Macquoketa, Wolf, Crescent City, Col. Wilder and Champion. Milton is the 

 earliest and Champion the latest. This list fills the season from the first of July 

 till hard frosts. 



Hon. Silas Wilson, of Atlantic, paid a high tribute to the culture of native 

 plums in Iowa. He thought much would come from the work of hybridization 

 and cross-fertilization, as witnessed by the excellent results obtained by Luther 

 Burbank, of California, in the Wickson plum and Giant prune. Iowa plums of 

 recent introduction, that have an established merit, are Hawkeye, Wyant, Milton, 

 Tatge, Charles Downing, Hammer, Communia and Rockford. Of the Chick- 

 asaws, Milton should be placed first and Charles Downing second. The Milton 

 ripens three weeks earlier than the Wild Goose. The Charles Downing is a 

 good keeper, a beautiful plum, and superb in quality. The Tatge is of Euro- 

 pean strain, and originated in Benton County some 25 years ago. It is a heavy 

 bearer, and belongs to the Lombard family. 



Hon. J. G. Berryhill, of Des Moines, who is cultivating our various native 

 plums for commercial purposes, considers Forest Garden, De Soto, Wolf, Hawk- 

 eye, Miner, Maquoketa and Milton as best suited for Iowa conditions. Hawk- 

 eye is the largest and most attractive of the American varieties. De Soto is a 

 wonderful bearer, but is not adapted to all soil conditions. Forest Garden is 

 one of the best plums for home growing, but it is not so valuable for distant 

 shipment. Wolf is the most profitable plum to grow. It bears well and early. 

 The Miner has been a profitable plum. It is productive, but only when sur- 

 rounded by other plums like Wolf, De Soto or Forest Garden. The Russian 

 plums have not been successful on his place. 



C. L. Watrous gave it as his opinion that our native plums are most satis- 

 factory. Col. G. C. Brackett stated that at the various trial stations in Iowa, 

 De Soto, Forest Garden, Wolf and Stoddard have done best. During the dis 



