526 [Assembly 



brick or stone, so that they cannot get into the earth, nor out of 

 it so readily, is said to be a preventive. This is too expensive a 

 remedy for most of our growers of the fruit to any extent, even 

 if it would have the effect intended ; but we are told that one 

 gentleman who tried it on Long Island, said it only answered for 

 a year or two, and then they appeared to inlest his trees in as 

 great numbers as ever. This, of course, must be considered as 

 no preventive. I should think poultry or pigs having the range 

 of a plum or any other fruit orchard, would be not only a cheaper 

 but surer remedy. Certain seasons we cannot exp^t to destroy 

 them entirely. We can only diminish their numbers, and this is 

 some relief. In Europe, England, France, Spain, &c., they grow 

 the plum very fine and in great numbers. They generally have 

 the same enemy to encounter we have, insects. In France, Spain, 

 and Portugal, they dry a great many plums, and export them 

 under the name of prunes^ which means -plum. Some kinds are 

 better for this than others ; the Perdrigon plum, for instance ; in 

 this state, when cooked, are said to be wholesome and highly 

 medicinal. The plum, to be wholesome to eat in any way, must 

 be ripe. They are more pernicious than any other unripe fruit. 

 There is considerable trade carried on with us in prunes. The 

 money we i)ay for these, might be saved to our country if we 

 would attend to the process of drying ourselves. It is very sim- 

 ple ; it is done by the oven and sun, but mostly the former. All 

 smooth, thin-skinned fruits are more preyed upon by insects than 

 others, such as the nectarine, apricot plum, and plums generally. 

 The nectarine is of the peach family. The skins of these are 

 pleasant to the touch of insects ; they are very nice in their feel- 

 ers ; they puncture them easier and penetrate the interior. The 

 plum and some other fruits have been found growing wild, in the 

 deserts of Arabia — in the oases^ or districts where certain plants 

 and fruits will grow tolerably well with little cultivation. Dif- 

 ferent tribes of Arabs who occupy these sections, and cultivate 

 them in their way, generally get food enough from them for their 

 subsistence, and that of their animals. The plums they gather 

 when ripe and dry, and carry them to the nearest cities and towns, 

 such as Cairo, Alexandria, &c., and sell them ; they are in great 

 demand here, being considered very healthy and refreshing in 

 such a climate. This seems to be opposed to tlie idea that the 

 plum requires a clay instead of a sandy loam to grow well on ; 



