LUTHER BURBANK 



exceptional difficulty of keeping stoneless plums 

 and prune seeds in condition for growing. Not 

 having the natural protection of the shell, they 

 tend to germinate too early, and of course they 

 are peculiarly subject to the attacks of insects 

 and of fungous diseases. Such seeds may best 

 be placed in cold storage as soon as collected and 

 cleaned, and kept at freezing temperature. Seeds 

 thus cared for will sometimes germinate almost 

 as quickly and readily as beans or corn. They 

 must not be planted too early in the spring, lest 

 their too prompt germination subject them to 

 injury from late frost. 



Incidentally, I may note that grafts sent to me 

 from a cold climate have often been observed to 

 start with greater promptness, and grow better 

 than those from our own immediate vicinity 

 where the winters are mild. Cold seems to rest 

 the tissues and prepare them for rapid growth, 

 just as treatment with narcotic drugs has been 

 observed to do in certain interesting experiments 

 that will elsewhere be referred to more at length. 

 OUT OF DOOR PLANTING 



In California, plum seeds are usually planted in 

 January or February, in a little furrow about an 

 inch deep. A furrow may be made accurately 

 and expeditiously with the aid of a triangular bit 

 of board an inch or so wide nailed across another 



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