The morning call., 1893-04-17
PRUNES AND PLUMS.
Varieties Successfully Grown in Ala
media County.

Correspondence of THE MORNING CALL
There are twenty odd varieties of prunes
and plums, which come under the same
heading, grown successfully in this S ate
over half dozen of these are seedlings
propagated by California growers, John
Rock OF Niles being one of the most sue
cessful of these growers. A good dozen of
the twenty varieties are grown extensively
in This county - Bradshaw, Washington.
Yellow Egg, jefferson. Columbia, Imperial
Gage. German prune, Silver prune, French
prune. Goes GOlden-drop, Fallenberg and
kelsey's Japan.
There are nearly half a million prune and
plum trees grown in this county, over half
that number being true prunes. The great
commercial prune is of course the French
pruue. Men with passion for fine distinc-
tiOns give half a dozen different names to
tho Petit French prune, small variance in
It's siZs and shape or color being reason
enough for new name.
Over quarter OF million of the French
prune are growing in Alameda County,
with the major part In bearing.
There is such a difference in the methods
OF pruning pyune that close observation
of the best results obtained By the different
| methods, should be taken as guide by an
oTchardlst who IS planting or taking care o {
| an orchard for the first time. Some growers
prune the tree back each year until it is
| four or hve years old, giving 1t IA stOcky yet
| Shapely appearance, aud continuing the
cutting back method every second or third
| year thereafter, according 10 the growth
| Others do no pruning at all after the fourth
| year, but take out limbs which are i'll the
| way each year. 1t is an undecided question
| which Is the best method. The last method
| is lie one most In vogue here; the tree is
| tough and elastic, and when filled with fruit
the long purple-laden branches bend to the
ground, are easy OF access, and when
stripped OF their burden spring back into
| place.
Almost all prunss and plums are now
| grated on tile wild European plum-My-
robolan. Ii is hardy, is not easily attacked
by disease, aud grows and supports Il strong
| tree in almost all soils. The plum will
| grow On itch, damp, clay soils. anddoes not
| object either to alkali. 1t more than re-
into rich soil. with an abundance OF water
| at hand.
A plum can be grated upon an apricot
| peach and almond with good results. The
| plum Is a small yet shapely tree, so can be
placed nearer together IN planting them /;
the apricot or almond, for instance, twenty
feet each way will give loo about to the
| acre, The average number put in.
No pests have as yet disturbed the good
Eealih OF the tree, II ls vigorous, long lived
and free bearer; $500 an acre net can be
depended upon annually l40 acres of young
plum trees have been set out In this imme-
dIate neighborhood this spring, all being
the true French prHne. The tendency in
planting all fruits now seem to be to plant
only standard market or canning varieties :;
growers ignore fancy fruits, except, per
haps, tree or so Tor the table. Large
shipments OF new potatoes, peas, rhubarb
and asparagus are being made from Niles
now.
1t is yet too early to tell what the crop Of
aprlcots or almonds viii be-not failure,
yet hardly crop. Cherry ami pune trees
are beautiful just now, IN full blossom.
The Impromplu Whist Club last Satnr-
day evening, at Mrs. G. b. Queerackur's,
was decided success. The gamc played
was duplicate whist, explained quite at
length in the columns OF The CALI. last
week. 1t is a novelty and extremely inter-
estlng The house was charmlngly dec
GRATED. Each lady was presented with a
choice bOquet aud each gentleman with q
flower 10 match, thus determining partners.
The prizes, wiIich were handsome ilrdi-
nieres, were won by Mrs. j. L. Thane and
Harry MCsher Miss Pearl Noble of San
Francisco, who was present, gave TWO vocal
solos aud delighted those present with her
choice cOrnet solos. Mrs. Carrie FroSs Sny-
der also gave with good effect two readings
during the evening.
The Ladies' Guild held n pleasant meet
inG last Wednesday at Mrs. Joseph Tyson's.
Mrs. Edward Clarke repeated by special re-
quest her paper upon Venice" and Mrs,
Claeb Haley read paper upon "Tne Gen.
tennal."
tennis tournament will be played Sat-
urday afternoon in Niles. Members from
the clubs in San Lorenzo, Alameda and
Haywards will be present.
The dancing party given Friday evening
by the young dancing teachers and their
pupils was largely attended and greatlyen-
jCyed. MRS. l.. Z. THANE.
Niles. April IL 1893.