99 



The planting. h\vever. in the proper dormant season, is 

 nearer following nature. 



As an illustration of the writer's confidence in his recom- 

 mendation to gnwcr- as to planting without waiting for rain, 

 we may say that we are planting mainly apple trees extensively 

 for the export trade at Platkop, District Ficksburg. O.F.S. 

 regular programme was mapped out. about 10,000 trees are to 

 be planted yearly for four years, good season or bad SL- 

 drought or no drought. The year (1905). as is well known 

 in the Conquered Territory, was one of severe drought, we never- 

 theless planted 9,000 trees, commencing on the i5th May and com- 

 pleting at the end of August. The land had been previously 

 thoroughly ploughed and prepared, the result was that to-day 

 out of the 9,000 planted, only 40 are dead. We simply carried 

 out the instructions as detailed in these " Hints." There is 

 no water on the farm except that held in two dams ; this was 

 just sufficient to give each tree two waterings in two buckets per 

 tree. We find that those planted during June decidedly best. May 

 being a bit too early, and August a bit too late. The growth to- 

 day throughout is thoroughly satisfactory. (1915 



THE CALIFORNIA PRUNE. 



(Petit D'agen.) 



This variety has been by far the most important introduction 

 to this country during recent years in commercial varieties of 

 fruit, and a short description of its habits and utility will not be 

 out of place, and should prove of interest to those who intend 

 planting orchards for profit. 



Introduced into the Santa Clara Valley of California from 

 France in 1856, it was not until about 1870 that this variety began 

 to claim public attention. It was in this year that the well-known 

 Bradley orchard (still in full bearing) was set out. In a few 

 years this commercial prune orchard yielded such enormous pro- 

 fits that it immediately led to extensive planting, not only in the 

 Santa Clara Valley, but over the whole of the State of California, 

 and extended even right north through the States of Oregon and 

 Washington, and east and south-east through Utah. Idaho, 

 Arizona and Texas. 



In a few years five million trees of this single variety were 

 planted in the State of California alone, and still planting went 

 on. The demand continued through each year of my stay in that 

 State, invariably exceeding the supply. 



