148 



CROP PRODUCTION 



the variety the Kelsey, after the man who owned the 

 original trees. Seedlings from these original fruits were 

 grown and other importations from Japan were made, 

 so that a few years later several varieties of Japanese 

 Plum trees were upon the market. 



These Japanese Plums differ decidedly from the 

 Domes tica types. Their technical name is Prunus 

 triflora. In manner of growth and appearance of foliage 

 they are suggestive of peach trees. They grow very 

 rapidly and begin bearing early. The flowers appear 

 so early in spring that they are often in danger from 

 late frosts. The blossom buds are clustered beside the 

 leaf buds and the fruits are borne in such thick clusters 

 along the branches that thinning is generally necessary 

 to get plums of large size. 



Both color and quality of the fruits vary greatly, 

 some sorts being red, others yellow. Some are good for 

 dessert or canning and others are poor in quaUty. The 

 trees vary greatly in hardiness also, some kinds enduring 



the severest winters of the 

 extreme northern states, 

 where others have their 

 fruit buds easily killed by 

 freezing. So the selection 

 of varieties with respect to 

 their adaptation to special 

 purposes and to local con- 

 ditions is very important 

 with these fruits. 

 BuRBANK Plums The Japanese Plums 



have been especially important in the origination 

 of new varieties by crossing with other sorts. Very 



