366 
JurRXAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 
• Hungarian Date ' (fig. 136). — This fruit is large, long, thickest in the 
middle, narrowest at the stalk. Skin thick, tough, tasteless, and easily 
removed : colour dark violet blue with a reddish tinge. On the sunny 
side there are many red dots and liver-coloured spots. The flesh is 
greenish-yellow, coarse, shining, and of a juicy, sweet, vinous taste. A 
free stone. 
' St. Catharine ' (fig. 137). — Fruit medium size, narrowing considerably 
towards the stalk ; skin very pale yellow, overspread with a thin white 
bloom. Flesh yellow, juicy, rather firm, and adheres partially to the 
stone : flavour sprightly, rich, and perfumed. 
Cmlden.' — This was origmated from seed of the ' Italian Prune." and is 
somewhat larger than its parent, of light golden colour, exquisite flavour, 
and good for drying. It is easily peeled, and separates readily from the 
stone, which is very small for the size of the fruit. The tree is a good 
grower, an abundant bearer, and has dark-green foliage. 
PeopaCtAtion of the Prune. 
The first Prunes were grafted on Plum stocks, but this has fallen into 
disfavour on account of the tendency of Plums to throw up suckers. 
Other stocks, therefore, as the Peach, Apricot, and Myrobalan Plum, have 
come into use. 
There is an intimate relation between soil and stock. For hght sandy 
soils the Peach stock is still in ^rreat favour, and many growers prefer it 
to all others. Upon heavier soils it certainly does not do so well as the 
Myrobalan. For some time Apricot stock w-as the favourite, but it has 
now fallen into total disuse. Experience has taught fruit-growers a 
severe les-on. The Prune makes a very poor union with the Apricot, 
and whtn the trees get large enough to catch the wind, it invariably 
breaks ofi' at the point of junction. In one instance a fruit-grower lost 
1,000 trees in an orchard. Those who have Prunes grafted on Apricot 
root can, however, prevent their loss in the following manner : As the 
Peach makes a very good union with both the Prune and the Apricot, it 
can be used as a support. The soil must be removed so as to get at the 
Prune on Apiicot union, and a Peach scion should be cut in such a way 
as to be inserted both above and below this Prune-Apricot union, when 
the Peach will unite with them l:)0th and form an arch with the trunk of 
the tree and help to support it. 
On small trees two such aid-grafts will suffice, but on larger ones 
at least four should be placed. These grafts will eventually thicken and 
form a complete trunk for the tree. 
The Myrobalan, or Cherry Plum ( Prunus myrohalanoX has of late 
come into great favour as a stock for the Prune. It is said by some 
growers that the fruit on Myrobalan stocks is smaller than that on Peach 
stocks, but that its riesh is more solid, and dries heavier. The influence 
of the root stock on the dried fruit is, however, still a moot question. The 
Myrobalan comes from France. It is a wild Plum, of great thriftiness. 
and is used very extensively in that country for a budding stock for the 
Prune. It grows readily from seed or cuttings, and is therefore easily 
