THE IRRIGATION AGE. 



243 



equal to one-half the battle in making a 

 success of the orchard. The fruits should 

 be marketed a few days before ripening. 

 If in doubt as to when they should be 

 picked, take hold of a pear and gently 

 raise the fruio straight up above the stem, 

 if ripe the fruit will snap from the branch. 

 They should all be picked in the same 

 manner, leaving the entire stem on the 

 fruits. In some markets pears must be 

 wrapped separately in tissue paper, and 

 packed in boxes weighing about forty 

 pounds each. Other markets demand the 

 open baskets. Winter pears may be picked 

 in October or November and put in boxes 

 for Christmas. They seldom sell for less 

 than two cents a pound, and even some- 

 times go to double that price. 



JOEL SHOMAKER. 



PLUM CULTURE. 

 Plum culture is one of the profitable 

 industries for general farmers and fruit 

 growers. The trees come into good bear- 

 ing in five or six years from planting and 

 the fruits are always saleable at fair and 

 remunerative "prices. An eight year old 

 plum tree will generally bear four or five 

 bushels of good fruit annually. This is 

 marketable in the fruit centers at an aver- 

 age of one to~two cents a pound. I am 

 familiar 'with several plum growers who 

 claim that the trees bring from $3.00 to 

 $10.00 each every year. They may be 

 planted as close as sixteen feet apart either 

 way, making the crop of an acre one of 

 profit. 



Any good orchard soil will produce plum 

 trees and return most satisfactory divi- 

 dends on the investment. A rich pro- 

 tected location is best suited for some 

 varieties, while a creek bottom or natural 

 .wooded place is adapted to the hardy na- 

 tive or wildljfruits. The plum is a hard 

 wood tree that takes up much plant food. 

 The ashes are- rich in potash, which is an- 

 nually consumed by the tree and fruit 

 growth. A good fertilizer for plums would 



be 400 to 600 Ibs. of ground bone and 200 

 to 250 Ibs. muriate of potash per acre, ap- 

 plied annually, broadcasted and worked 

 well into the soil: 



There are several excellent varieties of 

 plums, each having its own claims for su- 

 periority. In the northern and western 

 States the Greengage, Lombard and Wash- 

 ington are preferred. One grower recently 

 said his Greengage trees had brought him 

 $10.00 each for many years, by drying the 

 fruit and selling much the came as prunes. 

 In the middle section of States the Wild 

 Goose, Yellow Egg and similar American 

 varieties are probably the most profitable. 

 The Japan plums, among them being the 

 Abundance, Red June and Burbank are 

 popular and good sellers in the southern 

 districts. Some growers say these varie- 

 ties will produce fine specimens the second 

 year after planting. 



Plum trees may be obtained from any 

 nurseryman at prices ranging about twenty 

 cents each. The small trees are cheapest 

 and generally give the best satisfaction. 

 They cost less and are more liable to live 

 and become acclimated than the older 

 ones. Some of the native varieties, like the 

 Pottawatamie, may be planted in clusters 

 with fair profits assured. They fertilize 

 their blossoms better and bear more un i 

 form fruits when grouped in similar varie- 

 ties. Some successful plum orchardists 

 keep poultry in the groves to rid the trees 

 of the curculio. Ordinary insect enemies 

 may be destroyed by spraying with arsen- 

 ical solutions similar to those used in the 

 apple orchard. 



The marketing of plums is an important 

 item that growers must keep in mind. The 

 fruits will generally stand shipping to a 

 considerable distance. Regular boxes pack- 

 ing about twenty pounds are advisable for 

 market. If not sold green the plums may 

 be cut open with a knife and evaporated 

 either by improved methods or drying in 

 the sun. In either case the dried fruit 

 sells well and brings good returns. Where 



