CHAPTER XXXVI. 



THE PLUM. 



While not so valuable as the peach or the pear, the 

 plum is largely cultivated in this country, and some of 

 the best varieties are highly esteemed. It is propagated 

 by budding and grafting on its own roots, or those of the 

 peach, which are chiefly employed, and on most soils con- 

 sidered superior to the plum stocks. On very compact, 

 clayey soils, it will succeed better on its own roots. If 

 plum stocks are to be used, they are obtained from the 

 seeds of free growing kinds, managed in the same man- 

 ner as peach seeds, requiring more care to prevent them 

 from becoming dry. The native or Chickasaw plum is 

 sometimes used as a stock. When this is used, the tree 

 should be planted deep to induce rooting above the graft. 

 The Wild Goose, an exceedingly popular improved vari- 

 ety of the Chickasaw, is a very profitable market fruit. 

 It is not injured by the curculio so much as other varie- 

 ties, bears early and abundantly, ships in a perfect con- 

 dition to almost any distance, and often sells in North- 

 ern markets for as much as twelve dollars per bushel. 



As with some other fruits, the best flavor of the Wild 

 Goose is obtained when gathered as it begins to color and 

 ripen in the house. The trees are short-lived, but 

 as every farmer can raise as many as he needs by graft- 

 ing on peach seedlings, it matters little if a few die every 



