ON THE FOUR BEST PLUMS 



tually fertile; and being further assured that in 

 such cases there would appear offspring in which 

 the conflict of tendencies would produce wide va- 

 riations, giving precisely the materials that were 

 sought for such further selections and hybridiz- 

 ings as would result in the development of new 

 and improved varieties. 



At first the experiments were carried on in 

 connection with the nursery business. 



But about 1884 the work had developed to 

 such an extent that I determined to devote the 

 tract of eight acres purchased in Santa Rosa 

 wholly to experimental work. Experiments had 

 been conducted with garden vegetables, plums, 

 apples, berries, nuts, and numberless flowers pre- 

 vious to this time, but generally on a small scale. 

 Now, as I cast about for the most practical lines 

 of procedure I was impressed with the demand 

 all about me for better varieties of plums and 

 prunes, especially for drying and shipping 

 purposes. 



My work as a nurseryman had taught me how 

 urgent was this demand. I determined to under- 

 take to meet it on a broad and comprehensive 

 scale. 



To lay the foundation for the real work in 

 plums to get the stock together, gain experience 

 and knowledge as to the different species and va- 



[49] 



