Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1886-11-20

sion that we had the true prIlne OF COM
merce, cultivated in France under the
name of Prune dAgen.
This was first seriously questioned by
Felix Gillet, Frenchman by birth, and
prominent and enterprising nurseryman at
Nevada City, California, who asserted in
July, 1884 that our French prune was very
different from the French Prune dAgen of
France, both in SIZE color, shape and time
of maturity. He based his opinion upon
the conclusions drawn by certain horti-
culturists in France, from an actual COM
parison of the prunes raised and sent to
them by him for that purpose with what
they claimed was the true Prune d'Agen.
They failed to agree upon the points of
difference, one insisting that the California
prune is a Seeding from the Prune d Agen.
and not as large and fine another, that it
is the same in shape, but not so regularly
ovoid; another, that it is the same shape
and color. but that there is difference in
the pit; and still another, leading prune
merchant of Agen, France, that it is ex-
actly the kind known in France by the
name of Prune d Agen, or Prune d Ente,
and that the nature of the soil has much 10
do with the beauty and size of the fruit
THE REAL PRUNE D'AGEN.
Mr. Gillet, desiring to correct the error,
and to introduce in California the Prune
d'Agen, obtained trees from the north and
south of France, and spared no expense in
fully investigating the prune subject, and
kept the people advised of his progress from
time to time through the RlSraI Press.
His investigation up to November, 1885,
resulted in change of opinion, as shown
in his letter to the State Horticultural So
ciety, in which he makes the following
statement: "Our prune is true type of
the Prune 'Agen, and the kind grown in
the north of France and the valley of the
Loire is very poor type of that famous
prune." Our prune is not the very type of
the Prune d'Agen cultivated in the valley
of the Lot, in France, where are grown the
largest prunes, which are sold by mer-
chants of Agen and Bordeaux under the
name of Prune d'Ente or d'Agen.
Through the kindness of Mr. Gillet l
sent TO a horticulturist, at Agen, small
package of my own prunes for inspection.
In reply, under date of August Is, 1886, he
states that my prune has the shape and
color of the Prune d'Agen, but is not the
same type, the difference being in the pit,
and sent me two pits of his prunes for in
spection and comparison.
| am of the opinion that the French
prune of this State is true type of the
Prune d'Agen, the prune of commerce OF
France, resembling it in shape and color
though differing it may be in pit the ex-
act difference am unable upon inspection
to clearly define. This slight difference
may DE owing to climatic influence.
Whether the exact type of the prune
grown in the valley of the Lot, in France,
would prove better and more profitable
prune if grown in California than the one
we have, is matter for future experiment
and consideration.
OTHER PRUNEs.
The German prune is not generally
grown; but as it contains more acid than
the French, is preferred by some.
The Italian. or Fallenberg prune, some
times called German, is quite well known :
it has rich acid flavor, is of dark color
with blue tint, and is nearly round. The
fruit thins itself, and often rather too much
for profit, so that full crop cannot be de-
pended upon each year.
The Hungarian prune was brought to
San Jose with the French prune, and quite
generally planted and known as Grcs prune
The tree is strong grower and prolific
bearer, the fruit growing large and fine, if
properly thinned, and it is sometimes
double. 1t has an acid flavor, light red
color, aud is in demand green for Eastern
.
seeding plum is supposed to be its true
name.
The Bulgarian prune is not generally
grown, but is we'll spoken of by a few at
Haywards, Alameda county, as bearing as
well as the French, resembling the Italian
buS not quite as large.
The Silver prune was originated by
Mr.. Alderman, of Dayton, Oregon, who
believes it to be a Seeding from Goes
Golden Drop plum, but a thriftier and
harder tree, and bearing larger fruit the
tree bears more on the body and the fruit
does not break the tree down, and it ripens
q week or two earlier. Many growers and
nurseymen consider that it >annot be
clearly distinguished from Goes Golden
Drop plum, which is a good plum for dry
ing with the pit.
PRUNE CULTURE.
There seem to be no well-established
rules governing the planting and cultiva-
ton of the prune in California. II might
be well, however, to state briefly what the
most experienced horticulturists have been
doing, and think essential to be done.
Prepare the soil by deep blowing and
narrowing early in the winter and set out
trees one year old, about an inch deeper than
in nursery, the scar of old stock to the
north and not less than 90 feet apart cut
back the trees, after planting, to Is inches
from the ground, and shade on south side
by some convenient shade. Three or four
buds should be allowed to grow at the top,
and the terminal buds of those below
pinched back, after they have grown out a
little, so that the buds will put out leaves
and shade the stalk the first year. The
second year. remove them and cut back the
limbs to a foot in length the third, two
feet, etc.-the object in view being to shape
handsome tree with strength and bearing
space, which can be attained only by low
training and intelligent pruning.
After about six years of age, when in
full bearing, the tree does not need cutting
back as much as it does thinning out cross
limbs, if any, and pruning out unfruitful
wood. The sprays or small twigs in the
body of the French prune tree should be
cut back to one or two fruit buds, so that
the fruit may be large. Some, however,
advise the removal of all such sprays, as
the fruit on them is small at best.
1t is important in pruning to select buds
ON the upper side of limbs, as they will
have greater weight-bearing power than
buds forming branches from under side of
boughs. Summer pruning is not advisable;
a full seasons growth, properly pruned
back in the winter and trained so low that
the branches take a natural upward and
obli9ue direction, will shape tree that
will be strong and bread enough to live
long and be fruitful.
There is natural adaptation of tree to
root, and it is generally believed that the
apple should be budded upon the apple,
the peach upon the peach, the pear upon
the pear, and the plum upon the plum.
The plum root generally throws out suck
ers from the root, and ought not to be used
in budding plums or prunes. The myro-
bolan plum, however, does not sucker, and
is much preferred as root for the prune,
especially in rich, damp or heavy soils;
while in dry, light or sandy soil the peach
root is found to be good for the prune, al
though some contend that the sap starts
earlier and stronger in the peach root than
the prune top is ready to assimilate, and
becomes flooded and unhealthy.
In planting prune orchards, ascertain
from those in your vicinity upon what root
the prune does the best.
METHOD OF CURING PRIMES