THE 



Canadian Horticulturist 



Vol. XIX. 



1896. 



No. 2. 



THE ITALIAN PRUNE. 



HE plum is a favorite in many of the commercial orchards of 

 Ontario, especially in some districts bordering on Lake Ontario 

 and on the Georgian Bay. Much more hardy than the peach, it will 

 yield good crops almost annually and, the fruit being firmer, it can 

 be shipped a longer distance and marketed to better advantage. 



For a long time ';he curculio and plum knot were the bugbears 

 which prevented fruit growers from 'growing plums to any great 

 extent, but the curculio is less formidable of late since we have found that 

 spraying with Paris green, just before the blossoms open and again just after 

 they fall will, to some extent, destroy the parent beetles, while by careful attention 

 to jarring the crop may be protect^ed almost completely The plum knot too 

 can easily be kept in subjection by united effort among 

 plum growers in cutting out and burning the knots as 

 they appear. With the difficulties thus lessened, 

 plum growing in Canada is of late receiving a fresh 

 impetus and promises to be one of our most important 

 industries. 



That class of plums, known in commerce as prunes, 

 is especially well adapted for cultivation in such loca- 

 lities as are situated at a distance from the great markets, 

 for by reason of their firmness and keeping qualities, 

 they will bear shipping well. 



The drying of these prunes is an important industry 

 and the prunes of Provence are well known in commer- 

 cial circles. The Prune d,Agen is a favorite variety for 

 this purpose and the German Prune is very highly 

 valued in Ontario for profit, especially in the vicinity of 

 CoUingwood. 



The Italian Prune (Fellemberg) is another of this class. 

 Our colored plates shows the very finest samples that 



Fig. 899. 

 Italian Prdsk. 



