ORCHARD CROPS 221 



The best soil for the plum is a moderately rich clay loam. The 

 European varieties are adapted to the Northern States, the Japan- 

 ese and Chinese varieties to the Southern States, while the native 

 stocks thrive the best in other parts of our country. 



The chief commercial uses of the plum are in making preserves, 

 plum butter, and prunes, or dried plums. Only the large, 

 sweet varieties are used for prunes. These are grown principally 

 in California, Oregon, Washington, and Idaho. In making prunes, 

 the fruit is first washed in warm water, and then dipped into a 

 mild solution of lye to crack the skin, and thus hasten the drying 

 or curing process. The drying may be done either in the sun 

 or by artificial heat. 



The apricot is said to be a native of China, Armenia, and Japan. 

 Its fruit resembles both the plum and the peach. The skin is 

 smooth like that of the nectarine, its pulp is somewhat like that 

 of the peach, while it has the smooth stone so characteristic of the 

 plum. It is an attractive ornamental tree, with glossy, heart- 

 shaped leaves and white blossoms. The apricot was introduced 

 into California by the early Mission Fathers, and it is grown more 

 largely there than in any other State. Arkansas, Texas, Okla- 

 homa, New Mexico, Arizona, Alabama, Georgia, Florida, Louisi- 

 ana, Kansas, and New York also grow a great many apricots. 



Apricots are used in making jellies and tarts, and they are also 

 excellent when dried or canned. 



The cherry has been known since the days of the ancient 

 Romans. It is said that Lucullus, one of the Roman generals, 

 brought the fruit from Asia to Rome, and from that place it grad- 

 ually spread all over Europe, and from Europe it was brought to 

 America. There are a number of native species in the United 

 States known as the wild cherry. The black cherry is valued 

 chiefly for its timber, whicji takes a high polish. It also makes 

 an ornamental tree for parks and lawns. Its bark contains 

 valuable medicinal properties, and is used much in the preparation 

 of cough sirups and tonics. 



The domestic cherry trees are of two general varieties, which 

 are both of European origin: the morellos, which are hardy and 

 produce sour fruit, and the hearts, which produce a sweet-flavored 

 fruit. The morellos are grown in the eastern part of the United 



