62 WESTERN HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



The Improved Native Plums were more successful. Seven 

 years ago seven varieties were planted, the first to reach the 

 bearing- stage was a variety named Cheney, followed closely 

 by the Rockford, Wyant and Bixby. These are named in order 

 of merit. For the quantity and quality of its wild plums 

 along the foot of the Pembina Mountains has perhaps no 

 equal in the Province, but among them all none are equal to 

 the varieties named in size and quality. By selecting the 

 best from our native thickets, given good cultivation and 

 attention they will in a short time equal any of the so called 

 Improved Native Plums, but they will then have become 

 themselves Improved Natives. Authorities in the South 

 claim that this class of fruit is superior in quality to the 

 Prunus Domestica family. 



CHERRIES. 



The early Richmond were the first cherry trees planted. 

 This is the variety that grows so abundantly in the Eastern 

 Provinces. It is a total failure with us unless you grow it on 

 what I call the Swivel Sytem, which is described somewhat 

 as follows : 



Get one year old trees, plant in spring if season is favor- 

 able, a long slender shoot of a growth three to four feet high 

 will be made, on approach of cold weather bend over close to 

 the ground and hold there by pegs driven into the ground, 

 cover lightly with earth. In spring remove the earth per- 

 mitting the stem to lie prostrate, when growth begins to start 

 turn up the extreme top and tie to a stake, keep off all shoots 

 from the prostrate stem and encourage upward growth of the 

 erect portion. 



In the fall before the ground freezes cut the tree loose 

 from the stake and press it down to the earth to the right or 

 left and cover as before ; the spring of the stem will permit 

 the laying down of the trees with very little pressure ; the 

 prostrate stem will soon take root if left in contact with the 

 earth, and to avoid this place stones or a piece of board 

 under it. 



