50 STATE POMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 



lacing of limbs. I know no shorter way. Then if you fail to get 

 Wild Goose plums you can graft the rest of the top. 



Mr. Merrill. Since plum culture is becoming such an industrj^ 

 in the State I think the question of variety is one of importance. 

 We have settled within a few 3"ears that we need Baldwins for apple 

 trees. Now what do we need for plum trees? If we are going to 

 set plum trees for our own family use perhaps a variety of half a 

 dozen would be recommended. But for business we want to know 

 what is the best variet3\ It has cost us a good deal to find out 

 which was the best variety of apples for us to raise. If we can 

 avoid that expense on the plums it will be a great benefit to those 

 who are interested in this business. 



Mr. Blossom. In our markets in Lewiston and Auburn the favor- 

 ite variety is the Lombard. I don't know as that is the best plum, 

 but so far as my experience goes, it is the easiest plum to raise and 

 it is the best selling plum. If it is the best selling plum and the 

 easiest to raise it is the plum for us to produce mostly. If I were 

 to set out fifty plum trees next spring I should set twenty-five 

 jLombards. 



Mr. Merrill. I think Mr. Blossom later on after a few years of 

 .experience will wish that he had planted forty-nine Lombards and 

 ■one of some other kind, and later on he will sa}' he should have 

 ^.planted fifty Lombards. 



AFTERNOON. 



The meeting was called to order at 1 30 o'clock, President Pope 

 in the chair. 



Hon. Samuel L. Boardman, of Augusta, read the following paper : 



