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Government crop forecasts are made in connection with ths above 
organization. The first crop forecasts are made in May or June after the 
critical blossom period has past arid the fruit is known to have set. 
Additional forecasts are made during the summer as serious damage may be 
suffered by the prune crop during that period from rain, heat, hail, hot 
winds, and from scale. The merchants therefore hold meetings during 
April, July and August in order to keep themselves informed of the situa - 
ticn. On September first the prune division of the National Merchants 
Association at Belgrade holds its principal annual meeting and merchants 
ccmir.g in from all parts of the Kingdom give their reports as to prune 
estimates. These reports are compared with the G-overnment reports sub- 
mitted by the County Agricultural .Agents and the results are published. 
The Agricultural Agents are seriously handicapped in securing their estimates 
as neit .er automobiles nor telephones are available. 
Harvesting and Drying Prunes in Yugoslavia 
Prune trees blossom as a rule from about the loth to the 20th of 
April and the fruit begins to ripen the latter part of August. Harvesting 
lasts until about the end of September. In the higher elevations harvest- 
ing begins and ends somewhat later. Some of the early fruit destined for 
the fresh fruit markets is picked from the trees. For drying purpose the 
trees pre shaken at intervals in order to secure the fruit in best possible 
condition of ripeness. Poles are used for knocking the fruit from the 
trees. Straw is usually spread on the ground first. The fruit is picked 
up from the ground, placed in baskets and carried to the driers. 
The proper time to harvest is a great factor i.n securing ouali.ty 
fruit. In sections such as Yugoslavia and Oregon where fall rains come 
early there may be a tendency to hasten harvesting to the point whore 
quality is in.iured. Prunes that are too green or too ripe damage the 
cuality of the resultant pack. Yugoslavia attempts to meet this problem 
by not allowing the peasant to offer new crop prunes before a certain 
date. For a time this date was September first but has later been changed 
to September fourteenth. This date is subject to change depending upon 
each year's harvest season. Agricultural inspectors advise growers of the 
correct time to start harvesting. There is a feeling among both peasants 
and prune merchants that this rule is frequently evaded. Leaders in the 
trade have suggested that prune specialists be appointed who would travel 
to the principal prune areas .and for a month prior to harvesting advise 
the growers as to proper methods of drying and harvesting. 
Production costs 
As the growers look upon the prune crop as one requiring no cash 
outlay, no satisfactory estimate can be made on the cost of production. 
The orchards receive practically no pruning, cultivation, spraying or 
fertilization. Land values can hardly be estimated since the land remains 
in the family from generation to generation and is hardly ev«r offered on 
