187^ Tlie Western Pomologist and Gardener. 151 



understood; of the origin of this plum; praised it in very high terms for its fine qualities, 

 hardiness, etc., and kindly sent me buds, as, he stated, taken from the original tree, which 

 was standing in the vicinity of Columbia, Tcnn. There were no conflicting statements 

 at that time, as to the place or manner of the origin of this fruit. All these have arisen 

 since. The account given me by Mr. Harvey, in a letter written about that time, was as 

 follows, to- wit: That some years previous to that time, (1850,) a gentleman shot a wild 

 goose in that neighborhood, and on the very spot it was thrown down and left to decom- 

 pose, the ne.xt spring came up the plant now known as the Wild Goose plum ; and that it 

 was confidently believed, in that neighborliood, that the seed from which this plum tree 

 sprang, was in the craw ot the goose when killed, and this gave rise to its name. 



The tree flourishes well when worked on the peach ; comes early into bearing, and 

 yields abundant crops of fruit every year. The fruit is large and handsome, of a pinkish 

 red color, covered with a thin, delicate bloom. The flavor, though to an educated taste, 

 not quite equal to some of the popular varieties, is, notwithstanding, very good. It is not, 

 strictly speaking, proof against the attacks of the curculio, but the sting of any insect 

 seems to have little or no etfect on it, and, planted by the side of any of the ordinary cul- 

 tivated sorts, the Wild Goose plum will produce full crops, while they will not ripen a 

 a single specimen. 



This plum has a small stock, and so soon as the fruit begins to ripen readily parts from 

 it, which makes it necessary to gather the fruit before fully ripe. This seeming defect, 

 however, is fully compensated for, by its ripening equally well when taken from the tree 

 at this stage, as at any other. Indeed, I regard this characteristic as increasing its value. 

 It enables the grower to have it in market at its best season for use. With me it begins 

 to ripen about the twenty-fifth of June, and continues in use some three weeks. 



We have, for some years past, raised this fruit for market at our fruit farm near Cave 

 City, Ky., and find it the most profitable fruit we grow. It has but once, I think, in the 

 past ten years, failed to produce a full crop of fruit. 



This plum, so far as I know, has no tendency to reproduce itseff from seed, and, as great 

 numbers of trees have been raised in this way, spurious and worthless varieties, bearing 

 the name of Wild Goose plum, may be found all over Western Tennessee, Kentucky, and 

 perhaps, farther West. 



inashroom Culture. 



A writer in the Canada Farmer says : Many persons regard the culture of mushrooms 

 as a great mystery. But it is not so. On the contrary, it is as simple as raising a crop of 

 corn, or cultivating a grape vine, or a bed of cabbages, and can be done in out-of-the-way 

 places, taking up little room, and requiring little attention. Mushrooms, too, can be raised 

 in Wii.ter, when no other crop can be, and a regular supply had for family use. Or, if 

 conducted on a larger scale, with a view for disposal in our city markets, there is nothing 

 to hinder, and a most profitaLle thing can be made of the business. All farmers keep 

 horses and cattle, and have plenty of manure ; and it may be mentioned that the quantity 

 used in forming mushroom beds is not lost, for it can, when new beds are made, be 

 returned to the manure yard. It must be borne in mine, too, that there is no necessity to 

 build a place to grow this vegetable. It can bo srown almost anywhere in an enclosed 

 place — even in the kitchen or sitting room ; but the best out of-the-way places are a close 

 home-ntabie, which is regarded as the best of all ; mild cellars, enclosed out-houses of almost 

 every kind, where the soil in beds can be kept from freezing. 



Now, for the mode of growing : Take a box, say ten or twelve inches In depth, and as 

 long and broad as the space will admit of or may be desired ; pack it down with six 

 inches of horse-droppings, on this thrfe inches of dry cow-droppings, broken somewhat 

 fine; moisten this (not wetting or deluging it) with a strong brine of nitre or saltpetre 

 water. In this cow manure plant the spawn, which can be obtained at the best horticul- 

 tural stores, in the form of a brick ; break in good size pieces, say as large as a walnut 

 and set in triangular shape, thus \*, and cover with an eighth to a quarter of an inch 

 (not more than the latter) of fine, dry soil. Cover the whole with old carpet or any heavy 

 cloth, so tliat the light is tmnplelely excluded. Of course it needs no sun, but just the con- 

 trary, as perfect darkness is required. ,_ . IKOJI V^. 



