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The pit of the Yugoslav prune is small and freestone, a character- 
istic taken advantage of in offering, pitted prunes which are popular in 
certain markets. The skin is tender and for that reason the fruit is said 
to be unsuitable for the "dipping" or w a ter method of processing. The 
fruit runs small in size and as it is not washed prior to boxing it has 
not the appetizing appearance of pranes from other countries. An investi- 
gation of the driers showed that the oven walls are subject to cracking. 
This, when it happens, permits smoke to enter the fruit chamber, resulting 
in a smoky flavored fruit. This undoubtedly would be more likely to happen 
in the later dryings than of the first. 
"'hile Government rules for inspection went into effect in 1922 the 
duality of the Yugoslav prunes in export markets has not been up to normal 
during the past t^o years- The exporters in Yugoslavia blame the scale 
and climatic conditions. One must keep in mind, however, that the export 
markets since the war have been flooded with excellent quality, reasonably 
priced prunes from the Pacific Coast'. This brings up the question as to 
whether the lowered quality of the Yugoslavian prune may not be more a 
relative than an actual depreciation. Prices on Yugoslav prunes in the 
crop years 1927 and 1928 have been relatively high. In fact they have 
often been higher than American prunes. On such occasions the matter of 
comparative nuality immediately came to the foreground. VTnile prices on 
Yugoslav prunes were relatively lew the matter of quality was only a minor 
consideration. The fact of the matter is that Yugoslavia under the existing 
obsolete methods of production, drying, and packing, cannot compete with her 
competitors on an equal price basis. The leaders in the Kingdom realize this 
fundamental truth and strenuous efforts are being made to improve conditions. 
Legislation to assure a Quality product have been enacted and leaders in 
the trade hope that they will have the desired results. 
Orga nization for the promotion o£ better cultu ral methods 
Politically the Kingdom is divided into 33 departments of "oblasts 1 .' . 
There are two agricultural agents in each of these "oblasts", one appointed 
by the Kingdom and one by the Government of the department. Each of the 
"oblasts" is subdivided into "Szec" or counties and in each of these there 
is another agricultural agent working under the supervision of the "oblast" 
agent. The work of the county agents is closely tied up with that of the 
"oblast" nurseries of which there are 165 in the Kingdom. Up until two 
years ago these nurseries were supported by the Kingdom but they are now 
supported by the "oblasts" and are under the control of the "oblast" agri- 
cultural agent. This agricultural organization is of importance since 
immediate and future development in the prune industry in Yugoslavia wi 11 
depend to a considerable extent on its activities. Unfortunately there is 
at the present time but little cooperation between the agricultural agents 
appointed by the Kingdom and those appointed by the "oblasts". Better 
results could be expected if the work -ere coordinated under one head. The 
horticultural program now being planned for the Kingdom, "hile primarily 
centering on prunes, includes the development of a fresh fruit industry 
'•• i t h particular attention to the export market. 
