VOL. LIII. No. 2326. NEW YORK, AUGUST 25, 1894. 
$1.00 PER YEAR. 
A PLUM TALK. 
INTERVIEW WITH A VETERAN O K O W E R. 
All About Plum Growing for Revenue. 
There are few men in this country who know more 
about commercial plum growing than J. W. Kerr, of 
Denton, Md. For that reason, we are glad to print 
the following interview with Mr. K : 
“ You make plum growing somewhat of a specialty, 
do you not, Mr. Kerr ? ” was our first question. 
“ Yes. Since 1872 I have devoted special attention 
to what are popularly termed ‘ native plums.’ Start¬ 
ing with the well-known Wild Goose, supplemented 
by Newman, Moreman, and one or two other kinds, 
I have drifted along, until my orchards comprise more 
than 150 varieties of natives alone. Of course I would 
naturally take in the Japan plums, as, from time to 
time, they were introduced to American fruit growers.” 
group. There are some fine and profitable varieties in 
the Americana group. As a rule, those Northwestern 
varieties do not succeed satisfactorily here. Not at 
first, at least; they may perhaps become more accus¬ 
tomed to surroundings, as to climate, soil, etc., when 
removed a few generations from the original by prop¬ 
agation But Purple Yosemite, Louisa, American 
Eagle, Illinois Ironclad, Kickapoo, Wolf, Rockford, 
Ocheeda, Hawkeye, Hill Top and a few others, are fine 
as to size, fair in quality, and wonderfully productive. 
Of course I have a large number of kinds not tested 
sufficiently yet to warrant either commendation or 
condemnation.” 
“ How do those you have named compare with the 
best Japans, such as Abundance, Burbank, etc., as to 
profit ? ” 
“ I have not named any variety of the natives but 
is decidedly more profitable as a market plum, one 
are cared for in all respects. Crimson clover, S. C. 
rock, and a moderate help in the way of potash, cover 
the list of manures. The clover is plowed under in 
May, and the orchards worked after that with har¬ 
row only. They are seeded again to clover in August, 
and if they have produced a good crop of fruit, the 
clover is supplemented with a moderate dressing of 
S. C. rock and muriate of potash. If there is no drain 
on the land in the way of seed formation (in the crop 
of fruit) then clover only.” 
“ Where and how do you market your plums ? ” 
“As I am situated six miles from a railroad, the 
Baltimore market has the preference with me, as I am 
close to a steamboat wharf, from which a daily line of 
fine steamers runs to that city. Hauling by wagon, a 
distance of six miles, adds unpleasantly to the ex¬ 
pense account; but when I have a full crop, that 
matter cannot be considered. I use the 10-pound 
A CLUSTER OP ABUNDANCE PLUMS AS THEY GROW, JULY 24. (REDUCED IN SIZE.) Fm. 137. 
‘‘Why have you confined yourself mostly to the 
‘ natives,’ as they are termed ? ” 
“First, because those of European origin were un¬ 
profitable and unsatisfactory in nearly all respects. 
Second, I am in the fruit business for revenue, as well 
as for education and health.” 
“ What varieties of natives have proved most profit¬ 
able with you ? ” 
“ Wild Goose has held first place up to the present, 
closely followed by the Newman. The great interest 
that the last decade has aroused in relation to this 
fruit, has served to bring out scores of new varieties, 
among which there are several that threaten the dis¬ 
placement of the Wild Goose. The Milton and 
Whitaker are especially dangerous rivals—the former 
is earlier in its season of ripening by a full week, 
while the Whitaker ripens at the same time as the 
Wild Gcose—then Colonel Wilder and Charles Down¬ 
ing, two of Mr. H. A. Terry’s seedlings, and both 
Hortulanas, are very fine. Osage is another very fine 
one, ripening immediately after Wild Goose, and 
before Pool’s Pride, and is enormously productive, but 
is just enough smaller in size to unfavorably affect the 
price, often as much as five to ten cents on a 10-pound 
basket. Pool’s Pride ripens with Newman, but does 
not sell as well, only rating with Robinson. The 
Golden Beauty, Wayland, Moreman, Reed, Kanawha, 
and several other varieties, later in ripening, are 
profitable, more because of their uniform prolificacy 
than from the high prices they command. The varie¬ 
ties named so far are all of the Hortulana group 
(Wild Goose type) as classified by the best authority I 
know of on the subject. Prof. L. H. Bailey, except 
Newman and Robinson, which are of the Chickasaw 
year with another, than any of the Japans that I 
have. For the home garden, however, there are some 
of the Japans well worth looking after. Abundance 
(as Prof. Bailey has now made it) is one of‘the best. 
Abundance Plum. Fig. 138. 
Natural Size, July 34, before Ripe. 
less given to rot than Burbank. Chahot and Maru are 
also fine, but all of the Japans, save two or three va¬ 
rieties, and they not the best, are too precocious in 
blooming here, when late spring frosts are of annual 
occurrence.” 
“ Have you any special system of culture for your 
plum orchards ? ” 
“ No ; they are cared for just as my peach orchards 
grape baskets, in which the fruit is packed after the 
pickers have gathered in peach baskets from the trees. 
All inferior and specked plums are cast aside by those 
assorting. Covers are put on in the usual way, and 
New York, Boston and Philadelphia are shipping 
points, the latter being preferred because of smaller 
freight charges. When I handle 600 to 800 baskets 
daily, it is absolutely essential that I think. Under 
ordinary circumstances, I have to pick every day after 
the season opens, generally losing a good many plums 
by having to skip Sunday. This is markedly so, when 
the weather is very hot.” 
“ Do you think the growing of plums is likely to he 
overdone ? ” 
“ Yes, as certain as day follows night, it is only a 
question of a few years, not because fruit growers 
and farmers have any special fondness for this particu¬ 
lar branch of fruit culture, but because, at present, it 
is more profitable than some other rural industries.” 
“ What then ? ” 
“The survival of the fittest. That is to say, the 
efficient and skillful workman, who studies his 
business in all its details, will continue to grow 
plums and succeed, just as is the case in all voca¬ 
tions. He who prefers to hew wood and draw water 
with his hands, to using vigorously and persistently, a 
combination of brawn and brains, will have to hew 
the wood and draw the water. You may preach and 
philosophize, strike, deride trusts and expose corrupt 
politicians all you are able, I find that plums will not 
grow satisfactorily unless I care for them, and that I 
cannot care for them without thinking and working 
out every detail, from planting the orchard until the 
checks for the fruit sold in the markets, are cashed.” 
