Daily Los Angeles herald., 1884-10-05

As tho soil of the lowlands of Los An.
geles county is the finest in the world
for the growth of the plum and prune,
the following from correspondent OF
the Rural Press will be of interest to
readers OF the HERALD, who are inter.
ested in fruit cultivation. THE cele-
brated French plums, which are so
largely exported from France, are made
OF the prune d'Agen or Date plum; 1T
has also the following synonyms: Robe
de Sergent, st. Maurin, Pfune d Ente,
Prune Dante, Prune d'Ast. We con
slider il in France as the best for drying,
and the most profitable for that pur-
pose: some other sorts are used in some
localities, such as ''Perdrigon" or st.
Catherine, but by far not 80 extensively
M the d'Agen plum.
1t has often been remarked that 1t is
impossible to make the finer and larger
grades of prunes from 50 small fruit as
what is known as Petite d'Agen gener
ally appears. The French prune will
not succeed all over California; in Naca
valley, Pleasant valley, and like places,
it is too hot, and the fruit is very small,
A recent trip through these valleys con.
viuoed me OF that. 1t is, however, a
preut success in Santa Clara, Sonoma,
Napa, and other counties, and will at
tain very fair size il properly treated
The whole matter lies in nut she'll
select suitable locality, and thin the
iruit-if it will pay; ii not, then let
them all hang on; but we cant compete
with best imported grades.
We have seen i'll Napa this, Summer,
specimens of tho French prune as large
as medium sized Bradshaw plum, and
of bright red color, but they were on
branches on which there Were not more
than one'quarter the usual number OF
prunes.
We have several varieties of the Ger
man prunes which are cultivated to a
greater or less extent. Perhaps the
most valuable of these is what is known
as Lewelling's German prune, being first
introduced here by the late MIR. John
Lewelling lis of medium size, and a
great and regular bearer, and ripens
early in August. and makes very fine
dried prune, of better flavor than the
French, but not quite 30 sugary. The
"German prune' described by Downing,
old trees of which are found scattered
all over the older settled portions of the
State, is nowhere, as far as we can find,
a good bearer
The Bulgarian, planted as yet mostly
in the vicinity of Hay wards, is very de-
sirable. OF good size, and great bearer,
and the Bohemian is also good bearer,
a clingstone, ripening very early and
making a dried prune of most delicate
flavor. The Fullenberg, or Italian prune,
is the latest and with us in Napa, has
borne very heavy crop this season. 1t
is perfectly free, and the pit is very
small, the flesh being firm and of best
quality.
Prunes are being extensively planted
in California. Can not something be
done to educate the people how ia
properly cure the fruit and how to put
1t on the market in the best possible
shape! The time may yet come when
the boys and girls will take hold of these
things, and find both profit and pleas.
ure in so doing. We believe that the
public schools and all institutions OF
learning must teach something of the
science of horticulture, and thereby tend
to create an inclination fer continuing
the study in practical life.