Prunes

3S55

Prussia

the College of Physicians and Surgeons. Co-
lumbia University from 1879 to 1909. His
works included Hand-book of Pathological
Anatomy and Histology (with Francis Dela-
field, 6th ed., 1901).

Prunes. The term prune may be applied to
any plum which dries readily, without fer-
mentation, but more particularly to those
varieties which contain over 12 per cent, of
sugar.

Position of Cut

1. Correct. 2. Too high: wood dies
down to dotted line. 3. Anple too Ğreat*
injures bud.

Pruning, the process of removing portions
of the branches or roots of trees, shrubs,
brambles, etc., for the purpose of rejuvenat-
ing the plant, making it more shapely, pro-
ducing larger or better fruit or flowers, re-
moving useless or injurious parts, facilitating

Examples of Pruning

A. Pruning a standard rose to form the
head; first and second years' work. B.
Pruning a peach tree; let, 2nd, and 3rd
years' operations on same branch.

tillage, spraying and harvesting, or of train-
ing the plant to some systematic form. Heavy
pruning of the top of a tree or shrub tends
to produce a strong increased growth of
shoots and wood. The converse of this prin-

ciple is that heavy pruning of the roots tends
to decrease the production of wood. One ol
the applications of this principle in orchard
work is that when the trees are makinc: a late
summer growth of wood the roots may be
slightly pruned by running a plough between
the rows. This cutting of the roots tends to
stop wood growth and to induce the forma-
tion of flower buds and fruitfulness.

The amount and time of pruning vary
with the locality. If orchard trees are winter
pruned in the dry Northwestern States they
lose much moisture and become weakened.
In the sunny Southwestern States, if the tops
are thinned out to any great extent, the
disease known as 'sunscald' is induced. In the
more humid Eastern States, much pruning is
often necessary for the development of fruit-
buds on the inner branches of the tree and
the production of high-colored fruit. Consult
Bailey's The Pruning Book; U. S. Dept. of
Agriculture Farmers' Bulletin, No. 181; Fer-
now's The Care of Trees.

Prunus, a genus of hardy trees and shrubs
belonging to the order Rosacese. The fruit is
a fleshy berry containing a one-seeded stone.
The genus includes apricot, plum, cherry,
almond, and peach.

Prurigo and Pruritus, in medicine, a cu-
taneous eruption, papular, and accompanied
by severe itching, or pruritus. There may be
no eruption if scratching be avoided. The
process which causes itching (in such cases)
is possibly chemical, possibly acid in nature,
for alkaline solutions often relieve the itch-
ing. If severe and of long standing, as is often
the case, it produces a highly nervous condi-
tion through want of rest.

Prussia, former kingdom of Germany, since
1918 a state of the German Reich, lying
between Poland and Russia on the e., Hol-
land on the w., the Baltic Sea and Denmark
on the n., and Bohemia and Bavaria
on the s.; area, 113,157 sq. m. Prussia is the
chief mineral producing state of Germany,
the principal minerals being coal, lignite, iron,
salt, zinc, lead, and petroleum. Prussia is an
agricultural country. The leading crops are
wheat, rye, summer barley, oats, potatoes
and hay. All hardy fruits are raised, vine-
yards yield large amounts of wine, and hops
are extensively planted. Cattle breeding and
horse raising are important and the forests
yield valuable timber.

The textile industries comprise the most
important manufacturing interests. Others
include dyeing, paper-making, glass and por-
celain, cement, chemicals, leather goods and