2l8 Macfarlaiic — Tlic Beach Plum, Vieuicd 



fruits from the ocean front. The numerous remains of Indian 

 camps at Maurice River might suggest the latter, which would 

 be strengthened by the knowledge we have of extensive Indian 

 migrations. 



Fully six years ago, near Island Heights Junction, my 

 attention was attracted by the extensive areas covered bj- the 

 plant. Just before Iea\'ing the locality in the middle of 

 August the fruits were becoming ripe. The extreme variations 

 shown in size, shape, color, taste, consistence, and maturation 

 period, suggested the desirability for further observation. 

 Four years ago, at Martha's Vineyard and Falmouth, additional 

 facts were obtained, but the most careful and extensive studies 

 were made during last and the preceding summers at Cape 

 May Point. Immediately south of the last named locality are 

 hundreds of acres of loose sandy soil adjoining the shore, and 

 covered with continuous growths of the plum, or this inter- 

 spersed with gnarled and weird-looking specimens of the Red 

 Cedar. The earlier varieties begin to ripen there from August 

 lO to 20, and a continuous supply can be had till September 10. 

 Thereafter a few good varieties may continue to ripen till 

 September 20, but after that date an abundance can be had 

 only of a hard, greenish-purple variety of medium to small 

 size, that sweetens imperfectly late in October. 



The Beach Plum is a bush that ordinarily grows to a height 

 of five feet to six feet, and may then be from ten to twenty or 

 twenty-five years old. Plants from ten feet to twelve feet 

 high are occasional, and indicate an age of fifty to sixty 

 years. These latter as a rule bear fruit as abundantly as do 

 the younger specimens. As shown by Plate XX the fruits 

 mature in close-set clusters on the older wood, each cluster 

 being made up of several minor clusters of two to five. These 

 give to the bushes in autumn an extremely rich aspect. 



My studies as yet have been mainly confined to fruit and 

 stone variations, and these alone will be treated in the present 



