The Japanese Plums. 25 



has a more or less prolonged or continuous habit of bloom. In 

 California the tree is said to be nearly evergreen. The reports as 

 to its hardiness are equally conflicting. I have not yet had good 

 proof that the Kelsey has fruited north of North Carolina. J. 

 Van Lindley says* that last year in North Carolina his Kelsey 

 trees "were loaded with fruit, large and fine, quality of the very 

 best." It ripened from the first to the last of August. "The 

 Kelsey," he continues, "stands at the head for canning and pre- 

 serving, and sells in any market at fancy prices, but it comes into 

 competition with other fruits grown north." Kelsey has been 

 killed by cold in northern Texas ; on the other hand, the trees 

 are said to have come through the winter with little injury in 

 Iowa. My first experience with the Kelsey was at Lansing, 

 Michigan, where the trees killed to the snow line the first winter. 

 Professor Tamari, of Tokio, says that the variet}'^ is too tender 

 for the northern plum sections of Japan. Mr. H. E. VanDeman, 

 formerly pomologist of the Department of Agriculture, wrote me 

 upon the hardiness of Kelsey, in 1892, as follows : "My present 

 opinion is that it is about as hardy as the fig. All reliable 

 information that has come to this ofiice up to this date is to the 

 effect that it is not suitable to the northern states because of its 

 tenderness. I know from personal observation that between here 

 [Washington] and Baltimore trees have been serioush- injured by 

 winter-killing. Occasionally I have heard of Kelsey plum trees 

 withstanding severe cold, but in everj' case yet followed up, it has 

 been found that the trees were not correctly named." I am 

 inclined to think, however, that the Kelsey will sometimes endure 

 a New York winter if the wood has been well ripened ; but I 

 doubt if it will ever bear in this State. 



The accompanying engraving of Kelse)^ three-fourths natural 

 size, is made from specimens received from Florida. 



17. Kerr (Hattonkin No. 2. Hattonkin of Berckmans and 

 others). — Medium to large, generally very strongly conical with 

 a deep suture ; color orange-yellow, with a creamy bloom ; flesh 

 juicy and sweet, good in quality, cling ; early. 



An excellent variety, but not tested in the north. It varies 

 considerably in shape, even on the same tree, occasional speci- 



*Thirteeth Rep. N. Car. Hort. Soc. (1S93) 20. 



