PLUMS AND PRUNES 



soil, frequently in places rejected by all other 

 vegetation. It would grow on sandy soil or 

 heavy clay soil, on desert -like places, and on 

 soil which now and then is submerged by the 

 sea. It would grow in the drought as well as 

 in seasons of rain. In fruit it was remarkably 

 prolific, though the fruit was worthless. The 

 plums were not much larger than small 

 cherries, usually less than half an inch in diam- 

 eter, the pit being relatively large and sur- 

 rounded by a thin layer of bitter meat. There 

 were quite a good many varieties, some 

 ripening early, some late, and all of them 

 very hardy as regards frost. 



It was this insignificant fruit that Mr. 

 Burbank took under his care one day, seeing 

 its possibilities and eager to ennoble it. 



By the utmost care in selecting and breed- 

 ing through a series of years, the homely little 

 outcast has been made into a beautiful deep- 

 purple plum, dotted with white, averaging at 

 least three inches in circumference, without a 

 trace of the old bitter taste in all its rich 

 yellow meat. The new plum has all the 

 staying qualities of the hardy little ancestor 

 and will thrive in warm regions or frost belts, 



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