6 Luther Burbank's Late Introductions 



Soils and Climates. Formosa, like all the plum family, in general finds con- 

 genial conditions over wide geographical areas. In view of this, its trial culture 

 can be confidently recommended not only in the Pacific States and Territories but 

 throughout the Eastern United States, Europe and of course all countries en- 

 joying a climate similar to that of California. 



In habit of growth it is upright, growing with remarkable vigor, often before 

 commencing to bear heavily, ten to twelve feet in a single season, hence the tree 

 should be pruned quite severely when young and headed back to 18 inches from 

 the surface of the ground. Like other trees plums are more or less subject to sun 

 scald, which is overcome by having the branches start low down to give ample 

 shade to the body of the tree. The first three seasons following planting, practically 

 the same method of pruning as directed for other fruits should be adopted. After 

 the tree has acquired its form and the main branches are sturdy and strong enough 

 to support a crop, outside of thinning and cutting out cross limbs, no further prun- 

 ing is necessary. Experienced growers have learned that the shortening process of 

 pruning, if carried on successively each year, causes the growth of too much 

 young wood, which, although not strictly speaking suckers, nevertheless does not 

 produce fruit. The fruit bearing branches assume a weeping tendency, produce 

 a large number of fruit bearing spurs, but very little new wood. These remarks 

 refer more especially to California, and should be modified where climatic con- 

 ditions are radically different, in which case the wise planter will be guided by 

 the practice pursued by experienced plum growers in his neighborhood. 



THE GAVIOTA 



It is a cross of Americana and Japan, with probably half a dozen other 

 varieties combined with it. This plum has so many points in its favor that 

 we feel safe in recommending it as one of the very best of the latest 

 varieties of table and shipping sorts. It is of the largest size, and Prof. E. J. 

 Wickson, acting director of the United States Experiment Station at Berke- 

 ley, and Professor of Horticulture in the University of California, writes of it 

 as follows: 



It is a strikingly handsome fruit, mostly cherry red, very spreading and almost concealing 

 a rich golden sub-color which, however, asserts itself near the stem end. In size it is 2^ inches 

 longitudinal by 2 inches cross diameter, and the size of the pit resembling in contour that of a 

 rice kernel; also by its exceedingly small size 7 g of an inch longitudinal by 5 s of an an inch 

 cross diameter and only !g of an inch in thickness. By actual weight the pit constitutes one 

 and four-tenths per cent of the fruit. 



Actually, the pit is so small in comparison with the size of the fruit that 

 one is almost apt to exclaim, " Why, it is seedless." 



Its time of ripening, as indicated by Mr. Burbank in his description of this 

 fruit, applies to conditions at Santa Rosa. In the interior valleys, the season 

 would undoubtedly be fully two weeks earlier. Mr. Burbank describes it as 

 follows: 



