NOTES ON THE PRUNE. 
367 
propagated. The seeds are generally sent to California in the middle of 
October, when they are at once planted. There has been considerable 
discussion during the last few years as to what is the true Myrobalan, 
and it must be acknowledged that some of the refined distinctions which 
have been drawn do not seem to be well founded. 
Seedlings grown from the Myrobalan vary like other seedlings, both 
in fruit and foliage, and perhaps this fact has given rise to the distinction 
between so-called " true " and " false " Myrobalan. 
Practical men have gone on without much reference to this discussion, 
and whether grown from seed of trees imported a long time ago or from 
cuttings of the same, or whether seedling stocks are imported directly 
from France, as large quantities are, the Myrobalan of French origin is 
now the accepted Plum stock of California. 
It has largely displaced the ' St. Julien ' and the ' Mirabelle,' as well 
as the Peach. 
Though described by some authorities as a dwarfing stock, it is found 
to be sufficiently free-growing in California to suit all purposes, and to 
form a good foundation for large standard trees. Its leaves are smaller, 
and its shoots finer than the Cherry Plum, which is grown for its fruit 
in California. Whether the Myrobalan should be grown from seed or 
from cuttings is, according to Monsieur Balset, quite immaterial. Other 
growers hold with Mr. W. H. Pepper, of Petaluma, that Plum cuttings 
form a mass of fibrous roots at the lower end of the cuttings, and when 
transplanted fail to send out strong supporting roots as are obtained from 
seedlings. As for the durability 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 grown from cuttings are 
said to be diseased at the root, while under similar conditions the seedling 
roots are quite healthy. Longer experience may perhaps solve 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-round 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 on in the season, thus giving the 
nurseryman 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, when grafts are inserted in 
all the plants in which the buds have not taken. Grafting is done as 
near the ground level as possible, usually about two or three inches from 
the ground. These are, of course, the Californian seasons, and do not 
apply to colder climates. 
