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open question in California practice. Large quantities have been grown 
from cuttings, as is the French practice, according to Baltet. Other 
propagators hold, with W. H. Pepper, of Petaluma, that plum cuttings 
form a mass of fibrous roots at the lower end of the cutting, and when 
transplanted fail to send out strong supporting roots. As for the dura- 
bility of trees grown from cuttings, there can easily be found old, thrifty 
orchards planted with such trees, though it must be acknowledged a 
better root system would be expected from a seedling, and there are 
instances in which trees from cuttings are held to be diseased in the 
root, while seedling roots are healthy. Possibly longer experience may 
yield a demonstration of the question. 
Experience has shown that the Myrobalan stock thrives in this State 
both in low, moist, valley lands, in comparatively dry lands, and in stiff 
upland soils. Thus it has come to be accepted as an all-around stock 
for the prune. 
It is urged against peach stock for damp, heavy soils, that it does not 
do well; that the sap sours and the fruit will not set well, while the root 
is subject to root knot, borers, and other pests that do not affect the 
Myrobalan stock on the heavier soils. 
The prune is propagated by both budding and grafting. It is cus- 
‘tomary to bud the young stock first, as, if the bud does not take, it 
affords an opportunity to graft later in the season, thus giving the nur- 
seryman two chances. The budding season extends from the middle of 
July to the end of August. The young trees are stripped of their leaves 
and twigs about six inches above the ground, at which place the bud is 
inserted. The grafting season is in January and February, at which 
time grafts are inserted in all the plants in which the buds have not 
taken. The grafting is done as near the surface of the soil as con- 
venient, usually about two or three inches from the ground. The whole 
process of budding and grafting is described at length elsewhere in the 
present report, under the caption of “ Propagation,” and can be dismissed 
here without further notice. 
CULTIVATION, 
In the prune orchard, as in all others, careful cultivation pays. A 
double object is attained by keeping the surface well pulverized. First, 
the weeds, which draw heavily upon the vitality of the soil, which should 
be devoted to tree and fruit growth, are destroyed, and the fertilizing 
qualities which they would extract from the land are left for the benefit 
of the growing fruit. Second, it prevents the rapid evaporation of the 
moisture of the soil, the loose surface acting as a mulch, and on dry 
lands especially renders the need of irrigation less frequent. Further 
advantages are found in the neat appearance of the orchard, making it 
pleasing to the eye, and further, rendering its penetration easy both to 
teams and men. A neglected orchard, overrun with weeds, takes money 
out of the pocket of the owner. 
It is customary to plow deeply in the early spring, usually as soon as 
the weeds are fairly started. The seeds of these are given a fair chance 
to germinate, in order that the plow may turn under and destroy as 
many as possible, rendering subsequent cultivation much easier. Near 
the tree rows, shallow plowing must be the rule, taking care to avoid 
injuring the roots as much as possible. After plowing, the land should 
be thoroughly harrowed and left in as good condition as it can be made. 
