PLUMS FOR THE PLATTE VALLEY. 121 



Brown — Well, I have seen Forest Garden and Miner planted side 

 by side and both were heavily loaded with fruit. Almost any va- 

 riety of wild plum will fertilize the Miner. 



Carpenter — The Miner is not a true American plum and it will 

 not fertilize a true American variety. Yes, the Forest Garden will 

 fertilize the Wild Goose. 



Brown — Then you use Chicisa to fertilize Chicisa, and Americana 

 for Americana? 



Carpenter — Yes, sir. 



Youngers — I think the bees have a sa-eat deal to do with the fer- 

 tilization of plums; there is no doubt they carry pollen from one tree 

 to another and thus aid nature in her work. 



PLUMS FOR THE PLATTE VALLEY. 



BY JOHN A. HOGCf. 



It is with somewhat embarrassment I attempt to write a paper on 

 the subject assigned me, namely, "Plums for the Platte Valley." 



I came to Buffalo county, Nebraska, ten years ago last May. All 

 the fruit I found in the county then was the wild plum and grape, 

 the orchards that had been planted were not old enough to bear fruit 

 yet. So it was a treat to the poor homesteader to find wild plums so 

 plentiful and so delicious. My family gathered eight bushels one 

 afternoon, some of the plums being as nice as any tame plum I ever 

 saw. We selected the pits of the choicest of them and planted them 

 in a row for a hedge. Among the trees that grew from these pits I 

 have found three varieties that are choice and I think equal to the 

 tame plum for table use. One that is of a yellowish green color and 

 as large as the Wild Goose ; it is a free-stone when ripe, the meat is 

 firm and it can be peeled and pitted for canning like the peach or 

 apricot ; does not mash in cooking any more than the peach and re- 

 tains its flavor well. Ripens middle of September. 



No. 2, I call the Diamond on account of the peculiar shape of the 

 fruit, which grows fully as large as most of the tame varieties. Rip- 

 ens last of September and when fully ripe gets bright red on one 

 side. 



