Naturalisation in Extra-Tropical Countries. 387 



for drying, but the best sorts need a temperate mild clime. In 

 Southern Hungary and the adjoining countries Plums and Prunes 

 are most extensively cultivated and form an important article of 

 diet to the inhabitants, besides being exported in a dried state ; very 

 large quantities are also used for the distillation of a strong 

 liqueur, known as Slibowitz. The finest dried prunes are however 

 produced in Southern France and largely exported. California 

 sent away in 1887 about 40,000 cases of canned plums and 1,750,000 

 dried prunes. Among- the most important varieties are Heine- 

 Claude and the Mirabelle whether fresh or dried, boiled or pre- 

 served, the Mirabelle is always delicious ; that variety is of easy 

 growth in orchards, and can also most readily be reared for hedges. 

 It is a prolific bearer [C. Mathieu]. The plum- and cherry-season 

 would extend in S.E. Australia over five months, if alpine planta- 

 tions were formed. Brigade-Surgeon J. Aitchison speaks of P. 

 divaricata (Ledebour) as a native plum-or prune-tree in Afghanistan 

 Mr. B. T. Galloway [in circular 10 of the United States Depart- 

 ment of Agriculture in the division of vegetable pathology 1891] 

 has as a final result of his researches recommended two remedial 

 compositions against leaf -blight and powdery mildew as the best 

 for orchard-trees : 1st. The " Bordeaux Mixture," prepared by 

 dissolving 12 Ibs of sulphate of copper in 20 gallons of water, to 

 which slowly is to be added a mixture of 8 Ibs unslaked lime stirred 

 into 12 gallons of water. 2nd. The " Ammonial Solution," made 

 by dissolving 5 ounces of carbonate of copper in 3 pints liquor of 

 ammonia (diluted to 26 per cent, strength) and by pouring this 

 into 45 gallons of water. Either of these two remedies is to be 

 applied by a proper spraying pump Nixon's being one of the best ; 

 both can be cheaply prepared. Mr. Galloway has at one time 

 thus treated successfully 400,000 young trees. The ammonial 

 solution is the least expensive of the two and more easily prepared 

 and applied. 



Prunus Japonica, Thunberg. 



The Wild Plum of Japan, A small, ornamental tree, cultivated 

 for its often double flowers. The fruit edible. 



Prunus ilicifolia, Nut-tall. 



California, In deep rich soil, valuable for evergreen hedges of 

 intricate growth. Fruit about |- inch diameter, red or black, of a 

 pleasant sub-acid flavor, but somewhat astringent [Gibbons]. 



Prunus insititia, Linne. 



The Bullace. Middle and Southern Europe, North-Africa* 

 Western Asia to the Himalayan mountains. Professor Heer has 

 proved, that the lacustrine Swiss of the stone-age were already 

 acquainted with the Bullace as well as the Sloe. This species 

 yields some of the Damascene-Plums. P. cerasifera seems 



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