REPORT ON PLUMS 



Committee — F. A. Waugh, U. P. Hedrick, C. L. Watrous, 

 J. W. Kerr 



The plum crop of 1904 was generally of extra quantity and quality. 

 This was especially true of New England. A few sections had short crops 

 or none at all, due to late frosts. This was the case in certain localities in 

 western New York. 



General Changes. Important changes have been going on in the 

 standing of the different classes of plums, although no such revolutionary 

 occurrences as the introduction of the Japanese varieties a few years ago. 

 The most important of these changes relate to the localization of the different 

 classes and varieties. Further experience shows with increasing clearness 

 that varieties which succeed in one section may be second rate or worthless 

 in another and that each locality must work out for itself the list of varie- 

 ties best adapted to it. In a general way it has been pretty well demon- 

 strated that Americana plums are best for Iowa, Wisconsin, Minnesota, 

 and the neighboring states ; that Domestica plums and the Damsons are 

 best for southern Michigan, New York State, Massachusetts, and Con- 

 necticut. Plums of the Hortulana class appear to be the most profitable 

 (coming into competition only with Japanese varieties) in southern New 

 Jersey, Delaware, and the Maryland peninsula. Many localities in the 

 central and south central states promise to be best suited by the new hybrids 

 of the Gonzales group, combining the parentage of Japanese and Hortulana 

 varieties. 



The Japanese varieties continue to be largely planted over a wider 

 range of country than ever before. Their popularity in the more important 

 plum growing sections, however, is undoubtedly on the wane. In western 

 New York particularly they are now held in light esteem. The popularity 

 of the Japanese varieties is due to the ease with which they grow, the 

 earliness with which they come into bearing and their prolificacy. In the 

 sections where the Domestica varieties succeed, however, the Japanese 

 varieties compare unfavorably with them in the points of hardiness, lon- 

 gevity, and quality of the fruit. 



Particular Varieties. No new varieties of very great importance have 

 become established in the horticultural field during the last few years. 

 There are several promising sorts, particularly among the Gonzales group, 

 referred to above, which, however, are suitable only for middle or southern 

 latitudes. 



The Wickson plum has waned in favor. It has been found that the 

 tree comes late into bearing and ceases to bear well after it reaches a mod- 



