ELEVENTH ANNUAL MEETING. 109 



To aid in developing this infant industry of commercial plum 

 culture, the market situation should be carefully studied. A 

 package suitable for shipping the very finest should be selected 

 by a committee of experienced growers, and used as the stand- 

 ard Connecticut plum package. The common peach basket 

 will answer very well for the bulk of the fruit as commonly 

 grown, but for the fancy ones something special is desirable, 

 and it would be of great benefit if a suitable package could be 

 brovight into genera! use. 



In conclusion, the future for the plum-grower who keeps up 

 to date on varieties, and attends carefully to the details of the 

 business, is quite as promising, judged by the experience of 

 1901, as that of the fellow who sticks to any other line of fruit 

 growing. 



The President : Perhaps we had better hear also from Mr. 

 Butler on this subject, and then have the discussion on both 

 papers. I will call on Mr. G. S. Butler. 



Mr. President and Fclloiv Members: 



The returns to the skillful plum grower have been sufficient 

 to warrant further planting, but perhaps it would be better to 

 ask, will the returns continue as satisfactory if the average 

 farmer continues to plant, care for, and market in the usual 

 way? The market is already over-supplied with Burbank plums 

 of the size of our meadow plums, or nearly as large as Marianna 

 grows naturally, and with no interesting flavor until cooked. 

 The Abundance and Chabot can be grown on the same plan, 

 but many of these growers are already finding the returns are 

 not equal to those of the average potato crop. The continual 

 presence of this inferior fruit in the market cannot but injure 

 the price of good fruit ; still our plums sold for an average of 

 50 per cent, above the price of peaches the past season, the peach 

 market being injured by the same condition of aiTairs. 



The grower who will produce the best fruit, whether peaches, 

 apples or plums, will always find a market for it at profitable 

 prices provided his conditions are favoral)le, and he will certainly 

 acquaint himself with the natural conditions before he launches 

 very heavily into any matter dependent on nature. 



I seriously doubt if there are many spots in Connecticut where 

 the Domestica or European plums can be produced at a profit, 

 with the competition now offered from Japanese and Japanese 



