THE PRUNE 41 



But it is also understood that there are many 

 other features that cannot be ignored. 



A prune tree, like any other plum tree, must 

 be a good grower and a full annual yielder. The 

 fruit must ripen early in the season while the 

 days are long and warm. It must drop from the 

 tree in exactly the right stage of ripeness that 

 the orchardist may not be put to the trouble and 

 expense of picking it. The fruit should have a 

 small stone and if possible a free stone over- 

 looking for the moment the question of entire 

 stonelessness which will doubtless be required of 

 the prune of the future. 



Again, the trade demands a glossy black 

 prune, for owing, perhaps, to the fact that the 

 French prunes, especially those cured in the 

 smoke, are black the average purchaser is prej- 

 udiced against the prune of lighter color even 

 though it be of better quality. 



When we consider how many of these traits 

 are different from those required in the ordinary 

 plum, and hence have been developed in recent 

 times under conditions of artificial selection, it 

 will be obvious how largely the task of the prune 

 developer must be carried out in opposition to 

 the main stream of heredity; and it will not seem 

 strange that forty years has proved none too long 

 a time in which to develop the perfect prune. 



