A TRIO OF NEW PLUMS 



THE INTRODUCTION of a number of fruits, largely of the same character, 

 is sure to cause more or less bewilderment on the part of the purchaser, 

 and he is somewhat at a loss in making a choice. These latest creations 

 of Mr. Burbank's all have merit, and have now been tested long enough so that 

 there is no question of their ultimate commercial value. We know it is a 

 mistake on the part of the introducer to place any new fruit on the market, unless 

 he has abundant assurance that such fruits as he recommends will stand the test 

 of the severest criticism when they reach the commercial grower. It is useless in 

 these days to recommend a fruit of comparative merit, for unless the quality is 

 actually in the fruit itself, the consumer, on whose judgment the grower must 

 finally depend, might reject the new variety as not being equal to some of the 

 older standards. 



THE FORMOSA 



Formosa is an unusually handsome fruit which runs surprisingly uniform in 

 size, in many respects resembling the fruit of the Kelsey and Wickson, but much 

 more uniform and handsome in appearance than either. In flavor, firmness and 

 coloring, it surpasses the older varieties in every sense of the word. It is said 

 by Mr. Burbank to be of a rather mixed parentage, blending probably fifteen 

 to eighteen varieties in its origin. Ripens about a week later than Santa Rosa. 



So high an authority as Prof. E. J. Wickson, author of " California 

 Fruits and How to Grow Them," describes it as follows : 



I have never seen this fruit before, and I find it large ( two and one-half inches longitud- 

 inal and two and one-fourth inches cross diameters) and handsome, red, shading from 

 rather light to deep cherry color, the coloring being more even than the original Wickson as it 

 grows with me. The variety also seems to have a tendency to greater symmetry, the heart-shape 

 being less pronounced and the general exterior points of the fruit striking me as superior. Com- 

 parison of flavor points could hardly be made unless one had the two varieties grown under 

 exactly the same conditions. 



In line with the above recognized authority on California pomology, Luther 

 Burbank authenticates the opinions therein expressed : 



This is a plum which has been very fully tested for the past five years in close compari- 

 son witli all others, and has been pronounced the "best plum in existence " at the present time. 

 The trees are wonderful growers ( so far as known nothing comparable to Formosa is now in 

 cultivation in this respect), with unusually large, thick, healthy, light green foliage; strong, 

 hard, wiry wood, which is always capable of holding the great crops of fruit which the trees so 

 far have never failed to bear. Even this year when all ordinary plums are either a partial or 

 complete failure, Formosa is loaded with fruit of great size, unusual beauty, and unequaled in 

 quality with perhaps the exception of the new Santa Rosa first introduced last season. 



Formosa blooms with the Burbank and Abundance, and always escapes late spring frosts, 

 and always bears profusely even when continuous rainy weather prevents full pollination in most 

 other plums. No disease has ever found lodgment with Formosa. The fruit is of uniform size, 

 averaging about six inches in circumference one way by eight the other. Fruit rich yellow with a 

 pale bloom until nearly ripe, then turning to a clear rich red. Flesh pale yellow, unusually firm, 

 sweet, rich, delicious, with a delightful apricot flavor; nearly free-stone. 



Formo.=a has been very thoroughly tested for its keeping qualities, which are unequaled 

 except by Santa Rosa, Wickson, Burbank, and a few others. 



