THE GARDEN HIGHWAY PROJECT, SUTTER COUNTY 
Block of Roeding’s Quality Sims Peach Trees, Six Months after planting. To get results like this you must start 
with uniform high quality nursery stock. This interesting land development project, after wide experience, depends 
upon our trees for real satisfaction. 
EXPERIENCED GROWERS CHOOSE 
Roeding's Quality PRUNE TREES 
Prunes are grown successfully in many different parts of California. The 
climate of our coastal valleys is most ideally adapted to their culture and here 
they are a major crop, hut many parts of the great interior produce a very 
good quality product. 
Prunes like a long growing season of moderately warm, clear weather. The 
prune does not bloom as early as many fruits, however, and can be safely 
planted in some locations too frosty for almonds or apricots. 
Prune growers have a wide choice of rootstocks. Myrobalan, peach and 
almond roots adapt the trees to a variety of soils. Myrobalan should be used 
for clay loam soils, or those of heavier texture—especially if ample moisture 
is available. Myrobalan root will also stand excessive moisture well and should 
always be used in soils which are apt to be excessively wet during the winter. 
Peach and almond roots are less tolerant of too much moisture but will stand 
drought somewhat better than Myrobalan. The almond root is particularly 
valuable in soils of low moisture holding capacity, such as gravelly loams. 
The French Improved, Coates 1418 (XX French), and Sugar varieties are 
self-fruitful, but the others require cross pollination to produce well. Any tioo 
varieties may be planted together. Plant prune trees from 22 to 28 feet apart. 
When purchasing prune trees, especially the French Improved (California’s 
leading variety), give especial attention to the source of budwood. Keep in 
mind that the price paid by packers for the fruit is based upon its size. While 
differences in size are often due to cultural and climatic conditions, we are 
convinced, after a careful inspection of many orchards, that distinct strains 
of the French prune exist. We select our prune budwood from one of the out¬ 
standing orchards of the Santa Clara Valley—an orchard which consistently 
produces heavy yields of fruit well above average in size. When you buy 
“Roeding’s Quality Prune Trees” you are getting pedigreed trees with a definite 
record of production behind them. 
PRUNES—On Myrobalan, Peach and 
Almond Roots 
1 
11 
50 
300 
Price Each 
to 10 
to 49 
to 299 
or more 
6 
to 8 grade 
$ .55 
$ .45 
$ .40 
$ .35 
4 
to 6 grade 
.50 
.40 
.35 
.30 
3 
to 4 grade 
.45 
.35 
.30 
.25 
2 
to 3 grade 
.40 
.30 
.25 
.20 
♦Burton. August-September. An extra 
large prune especially valuable for 
fancy packing. The fruit is sweet and 
of good quality. It is also nice for eat¬ 
ing when picked fresh from the trees 
and we recommend it for the family 
orchard. A good pollinizer. (On almond 
and Myrobalan roots.) 
Coates 1418 (XX French, Cox, Date, 
Saratoga). This might be described as 
the prune of many names as each of the 
foregoing is used in some localities to 
designate it. It was introduced about 
fifteen years ago as a superior variety 
to the French. Its popularity has gradu¬ 
ally been increasing ever since its intro¬ 
duction and growers have found that it 
consistently runs to larger sizes. It is 
second in popularity only to the French 
Improved. 
♦French Improved. August-September. 
By far the leading prune in California 
and unexcelled in quality. The fruit is 
of medium size, dark blue, with tender 
skin, and flesh of fine texture; rich and 
sugary. The tree is vigorous and very 
productive. Very similar to the old 
French Petite d’Agen, but runs to larger 
sizes. Yearling trees available on Myro¬ 
balan, peach and almond roots. Also 
June Budded trees on peach root. For 
June Bud prices, see page 63. 
♦Imperial Epineuse. (Imperial) August- 
September. One of the largest prunes 
and also of very good quality. Its dis¬ 
tribution is not as wide as most of the 
other varieties as it is inclined to shy 
bearing in some sections. Where it does 
well, however, it is a profitable variety 
as its fruit always brings a substantial 
premium over smaller sorts. Should al¬ 
ways be planted with another variety 
for cross-pollination. 
Robe de Sergeant. August-September. 
A medium sized prune particularly 
adapted to the interior valleys. The 
fruit is oval, very dark in color, with a 
light greenish yellow flesh of distinc¬ 
tive flavor. (On Myrobalan root only.) 
Standard. August. A large, dark pur¬ 
ple fruit which is used for both fresh 
shipment and drying. The flesh is fine 
grained, juicy and sweet. (On Myro¬ 
balan root only.) 
Sugar. August. The earliest prune to 
ripen. Used for both fresh shipment and 
drying. The fruit is extra large, oval, 
dark purple. The flesh is sweet though 
not so high in quality as some of the 
others. Popular in the interior valleys 
as well as in coastal districts. The trees 
bear enormous crops. 
(*) Varieties especially recommended 
for the home orchard. 
[ 68 ] 
