DR. J. R. CARDWELL. 25 



one half cents base, and slow movement. California is in 

 the hands of a combine, even at these prices, and the 

 eastern market proposes to hold off and break the com- 

 bine arid get prunes yet lower. The few prunes that are 

 sold now are sold outside the combine at lower figures. 

 Canned goods and green fruits are taking the place of the 

 prune. It remains to be seen whether the combine will 

 hold or break. To hold possibly means that the oppor- 

 tunity to sell will be lost and stock held over. To say the 

 least, the condition is not encouraging. The trade calls 

 for a large black prune. The French prune grown in 

 Oregon is small and light colored and can not compete 

 with the larger dark French prune grown in the Santa 

 Clara Valley, not to speak of their ad vantage in sun-drying. 

 I have one thousand five hundred twelve-year-old French 

 prune trees yet to work over; am growing wood of the 

 Burbank sugar prune for scions. California is setting and 

 top-grafting into this prune extensively. Everything is 

 claimed for it. "Three weeks earlier than the French, 

 much larger, sweeter, drying forty-five pounds to the 

 hundred; ever bearing enormously; tree vigorous ; free 

 from blight or disease of any kind," etc. 



In 1872 set three hundred Royal Ann cherries, three hun- 

 dred Black Republican, and later, four hundred Bing, sev- 

 enty-five Lambert, sixty Governor Wood, fifty May Duke, 

 and one hundred Early Richmond ; for some years the 

 Royal Ann and Black Republican brought from fifty cents 

 to seventy cents per pound, in ten-pound boxes for shipment 

 East. This was fairly remunerative, but of late, on account 

 of fungi, the Royal Ann has not carried well in the long 

 haul; is easily bruised, turns black on the facing, and 

 altogether is an unattractive and unsalable fruit in the 

 eastern markets. We have discontinued shipment. Can- 

 neries have come to the rescue and now contract our fruit 

 at three and one half to four cents loose, boxes returned. 



