" The prunes are very large and hence it takes several weeks to cure them. By the 

 time all expenses are paid it is a serious question whether it does not eat up all the extra 

 price that is received on this prune over the French prune, especially when it shall have 

 become more common and the price will be more at a par with the smaller prunes. 



" Mr. Luther Burbank, whose place at Santa Rosa I have visited this summer several 

 times, has a new prune which I think will supplant it and all other varieties. It is, I think, 

 as large as the Imperial, and has ys more sugar than either it or the French prune and 

 ripens in the latter end of July; so its drying is easily accomplished. 



" Were I to extend my operations further in the dried fruit line I would certainly 

 demonstrate whether it was a success in my locality and on my soil and if so would 

 confine myself to it exclusively hereafter. 



" I understand it has not yet been put upon the market, but I take this occasion to 

 call the attention ot fruit growers to it, as it surpasses anything in that line I have ever 

 seen. I remain. Very truly yours, 



S. F. LEIB. 



ANALYSIS. 



University of California, Agricultural Experiment Station, 



College of Agriculture. F. W. Hilgard, Director. 



Berkeley, Calif. August 19th, 1898. 



Determination of Sugar in "SUGAR" prune; sample sent by Luther Burbank, Esq., 

 Santa Rosa, Calif. 



Sample partially dried, contains: 



Total Sugar, in whole fresh fruit, per cent 23.92 



French prunes, average Sugar, in whole fresh fruit, per cent 18.53 



All prunes average Sugar, in whole fresh fruit, per cent 15-35 



GEO. E. COLBY. 



" Dear Mr. Burbank: You will see above the determination of sugar in your prune. 

 The sample was shriveled a little on receipt, which accounts for the word ' partially 

 dried.' The sugar percentage on a plump specimen would have been slightly less, probably 

 very slightly. 



" We have had occasionally a specimen of Prune d'Agen which would go as high in 

 sugar as yours, but they too had probably lost some moisture by evaporation. The 

 analysis shows that you can safely expect your prune to equal the very best (or rather the 

 very highest sugar) the French has ever shown, and this in connection with size is some- 

 thing which I believe no other prune has ever shown. I must congratulate you most 

 heartily upon this creation." Sincerely, 



E. J. WICKSON. 



" Luther Burbank will give to the world a wonderful creation in a few months. He 

 has labored for sixteen years with the French prune in the endeavor to eradfcate its 

 many faults and combine all the good qualities it should possess. The French prune is 

 not very long lived. 



" Owing to its manner of growth there is too much pruning made necessary. 



" The shape of the tree is decidedly bad, its root habits are faulty. The roots do not 

 descend far enough into the earth after moisture. Late in the season, when other fruit 

 trees are still vigorous its strength declines. The French prune should ripen one month 

 earlier to be of greatest value in Sonoma county in order that drying might be completed 

 before danger of rain. 



" The fruit has no distinct flavor. It is simply sweet. 



" The main virtue of the prune is that it is easily handled. 



" Still another fault is that the fruit forms too far out on the branches and thus lessens 

 the amount it should be capable of producing. 



" Any one who takes things as they come is satisfied with the French prune, and of 

 all the older prunes this one is the best. 



" That, however, should not deter one from seeking to improve it. 



" Nobody disclaims the fact that there are prunes which possess richer flavor than 

 the French prune, others that are of larger size, still others that ripen earlier, and thus 

 all along the line, his plan has been, to produce a prune possessing these various excellent 

 qualities and blend them into one. When that is accomplished there will result some- 

 thing which will revolutionize prune growing, waden the market for this fruit and 

 materially increase the prices and profits." — Santa Rosa Republican. 



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