CHAPTER XL 



THE PLUM. 



I^ HE plum is one of the most valuable of our cultivated fruits. 

 ^P In point of hardiness it is surpassed by none other. Some 

 varieties of good quality are hardy as far north as Winni- 

 peg. It is valuable for cooking or eating uncooked. It should be 

 more generally grown, and more attention should be paid to get- 

 ting varieties that will prolong the season, which will lastfor at 

 least six weeks if a proper selection is made of the kinds now 

 offered by nurserymen at reasonable figures. There are four 

 species of the plum which are of interest to us in this section: 



(1) Prunus domestical is a native of Europe, and from it have 

 come the varieties of plum commonly cultivated in the Eastern 

 States and In California, but varieties of it generally cultivated in 

 these sections are not hardy here. There are, however, a number 

 of varieties of this species which have been introduced from Rus- 

 sia and promise to be of some value here. 



(2) Frunus Americana, is the plum found in our woods in its 

 wild state. It is far superior to the original form of the preced- 

 ing species, and it is very probable that under cultivation many 

 very desirable varieties will be developed, which will be hardy 

 enough for this section,. Already selections have been made from 

 it by our nurserymen which are vastly superior to the kinds ordi- 

 narily found in the woods. These vary much iu size, form, quality 

 and color. Some are very nice dessert fruit, some have free-stones, 

 ^hile generally they have cling-stones. This is the most promising 

 species for this section. 



There are two forms of this. One is rather a small tree with 

 black twigs and close head, having small, very astringent purplish 

 fruit. The other is more open in its habit, makes a larger tree, and 

 has rather large fruit colored with red and yellow. It is to this 

 latter form that we must look for the best varieties for cultivation. 



The two other species of interest to us are (3) Prunus hortulana 

 and (4) Primus a'ngustifolia. These species are seldom found north 

 of Central Iowa. Many of them are not hardy enough for North- 

 ern Iowa, but some varieties of it are hardy as far north as bi. 



