STATE POMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 37 



The President appointed D. J. Briggs, Turner, T. M. Merrill, 

 New Gloucester, and A. E. Andrews, Gardiner, a committee on fruit, 

 exhibit. 



THURSDAY FORENOON. 



The meeting was called to order by President Pope at 9.30 o'clock. 



Mr. Dunbar not being present, a paper prepared b}' him oq 

 ^'Plums and Their Culture," was read by Mr. M. C. Hobbs of West 

 Farmington. 



PLUMS AND THEIR CULTURE. 

 By E. W. Dunbar. 



In writing upon the cultivation of any crop, I feel somewhat diffi- 

 dent, from the fact that there are so very many different things to 

 be considered. When I find a certain variety of fruit growing suc- 

 cessfully in one locality, and within a few miles from it the same va- 

 riety, under similar cultivation, almost a failure, I feel cautious- 

 about recommending any particular varieties or special modes of 

 cultivation. In this paper I think it best to confine myself, princi- 

 pall^^ to my own experience, the varieties grown, soil, dressings and 

 some observations in connection vrith the subject, rather than to ad- 

 vance theories. 



I have cultivated plums more or less for thirty years. My first 

 effort was upon a farm in the town of Nobleboro', some six miles 

 north of this place. I had but few trees, I had excellent success 

 with the Imperial Gage grafted upon the old Damson stock dressed' 

 wholly with stable manure. I disposed of this farm and moved ta 

 the village of Damariscotta, and in 1872 purchased a residence to« 

 gether with quite a lot of land. Upon examining the soil, I found 

 it similar to that upon which my plums were raised on the farm, and 

 so decided to set a few trees to see what they would do in my new 

 location. My success with the Imperial Gage induced me to select 

 some of the same variet3\ I set this and the Lombard. They grew 

 well and commenced to fruit in three years. In 1879 they bore the 

 best crop which was very abundant. Upon one limb, not over three- 

 fourths of an inch in diameter, on a space of one foot, I counted 

 fift3'-six well grown plums. 



