824 



Prune-Growing in Bedfordshire. 



[Deo., 



Once the tree is formed no pruning is done except to cut 

 out dead wood. Even this is often neglected, with the result 

 that in many cases large main branches have had to be removed 

 eventually, whereas a little judicious cutting a few seasoni 

 before would have prevented the spread of the diseased wood. 



As a general rule, manuring is confined to the droppings of 

 animals, but some growers apply farmyard manure or shoddy 

 as a mulch round the trees; and as stated above a dressing of 

 lime is often given. 



Character of Tree. — The prune tree is always grown as & 

 standard in this district and attains considerable size. The leaf 

 is smaller than the ordinary plum leaf but larger than that of 

 the damson. The fruit is very similar to the damson, but much 

 larger, and a very fine " bloom " is a characteristic which dis- 

 tinguishes it in normal seasons. In taste it is bitter, but its 

 keeping qualities are excellent., and for this reason a large 

 quantity of the fruit is despatched for use in the Fleet. 

 This appears to be one of its chief uses; another is that of 

 making dyes for silken materials. So far as can be ascertained 

 it is not used as a dessert fruit, but is largely used for culinary 

 purposes, and owing to its lateness usually commands a good 

 price. 



Marketing. — A considerable quantity of the fruit goes to the 

 markets in the great northern towns, but consignments are sent 

 to all parts of the country. This season has been a very bad 

 one; though the trees blossomed well, frost did a lot of damage 

 before the fruit set, with the result that the crop has been prac- 

 tically a failure. A good season has not been experienced since 

 1918, when an average of about 6 tons to the acre was obtained; 

 in 1919 about half this quantity was picked, but last year and 

 this year only a few bushels have been gathered. A normal 

 season yields 4-5 tons to the acre. The fruit is usually sent 

 away in sieves and half-sieves, and as a general rule travels 

 very well. 



It is astonishing that this fine prune has not spread to other 

 districts. There is a local belief that it does not grow well in 

 Kent, but in all probability it has never had a fair trial. A 

 certain number of suckers were sent to Wisbech and up to the 

 present they are giving indications that they will do well, 

 although their exploitable age has not been reached. 



Pests. — The chief insect pest is the leaf-curling aphis which 

 does very considerable damage in some years, a reduction of 

 20 per cent, in the crop resulting. Caterpillars of the lackey 

 moth are sometimes troublesome, and a mite, which 



