Italian Prune 
PLUMS 
Plum trees bear early and grow well in all kinds of soil. The fruit is delicious when fresh 
picked and can be preserved in many ways. The trees are often planted for their ornamen¬ 
tal value as well. The varieties offered below easily withstand the extremes of temperature 
found in Michigan and neighboring states. Plum varieties do not fertilize themselves and 
therefore it is important to plant at least two trees of different varieties to insure fruiting. Jap¬ 
anese varieties should be interplanted with other Japanese varieties and European vari¬ 
eties with other European varieties in order to secure proper cross-pollinization. Some plum 
varieties habitually overbear and should always be thinned. 
There are three main groups of Plums and their hybrids. The 
European are the best in quality, the American are superior as to 
hardiness, and the Japanese are the earliest bearers. The American 
class of plums besides standard varieties, contains two sub-classes, 
namely: New Minnesota Hybrids and those of Professor Hansen of 
South Dakota. These new introductions are most notable because 
of their early bearing characteristics, some fruiting even in the 
nursery row. They are the result of crossing our native American 
Plums with some of the Japanese varieties and are of such hardi¬ 
ness that they are now successfully fruiting in North Dakota and 
Manitoba. Their taste is superior to that of California grown plums 
which they resemble in appearance. 
Plant plums 18-24 feet apart each way for commercial orchards. 
In gardens for home use where space is limited, Plums can be set 
ten feet apart each way provided they are pruned to keep the 
trees from growing too large. 
AMERICAN and EUROPEAN VARIETIES 
GERMAN PRUNE 
This excellent variety is one of the oldest plums 
under cultivation and is still largely grown the world 
over. The fruit is excellent for all culinary purposes, 
especially for canning and, though of only medium 
size, is of good quality. Color purplish black with 
thick bloom and numerous dots. The tree is large, 
vigorous, hardy and productive. The fruit seldom 
requires thinning. 
ALBION 
The largest ripening, good plum grown at the Geneva Testing 
Station. The fruit is of the Grand Duke type, but is larger and of 
a better quality. The tree is productive, strong, and vigorous. This 
plum is rapidly becoming very popular. 
BRADSHAW 
One of the leading varieties because the trees are large, well 
formed, bear regularly and heavily, are robust and healthy. Fruit 
mid-season, dark violet red, large, attractive, a good shipper and 
keeper. Is a semi-free stone. 
^ ITALIAN PRUNE 
Is the most widely grown of all plums. The leading 
plum in the Pacific Northwest for prune making. Tree 
usually large, hardy, productive, well formed and 
bears regularly. The fruit is oval in size, color purple; 
flesh juicy, and delicious, parts from the stone easily. 
A late plum ripening in September. 
GUEII 
A popular eastern variety and a money-maker. Tree early and 
abundant bearer; large and vigorous. Fruit mid-season, medium 
size, skin dark purplish black covered with a thick bloom. Flesh 
light golden yellow, firm but tender, sweet, mild, fair in quality. 
Stone free. Last of August and first of September. 
^ HUNGARIAN PRUNE 
The fruit of this plum is the handsomest and largest in cultiva¬ 
tion. Tree large, vigorous, hardy and productive. Fruit dark reddish 
purple, overspread with thick bloom; flesh yellowish-green, juicy, 
firm but tender, sweet and mild. Excellent in quality, a good 
shipper and keeper, ripe about middle of September. 
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