dl2 LUTHER BURBANK 



a useful function in giving support to the fruit. 

 But the stone may be somewhat smaller than it 

 commonly is and still give adequate support. 

 In the development of stoneless plums it will be 

 necessary to bear in mind that the removal of 

 the stone to some extent takes from the fruit its 

 natural support, and the plant developer will 

 select with intent to increase the firmness of the 

 pulp of the fruit. 



Where the stone is retained it should be free, 

 particularly in the case of the plum. The ad- 

 vantages of a freestone fruit are obvious to 

 every fruit eater. Varieties of plums have been 

 developed in which the stone becomes practically 

 detached from the fruit on ripening. 



There is now no reason why the orchardist 

 should not include freestone among the qualities 

 that he demands of his ideal plum. 



If to these qualities of root and branch and 

 leaf and flower and fruit we add the one com- 

 prehensive requisition that the texture of tree 

 and fruit alike should have the indefinable qual- 

 ity that makes it resistant to disease, we have 

 perhaps summarized in broad and general out- 

 lines the most essential qualities of the ideal 

 plum. 



It may properly enough be said that no plum 

 hitherto developed can measure up to the maxi- 



