282 Bulletin 71. 



No dcor-yard is too small or park too grand to afford space for 

 the humble, cheerful, fragrant plum flower. The early varieties 

 begin to bloom soon after New Years in the latitude of Tokio, and 

 from then until the end of March a succession of bloom is kept 

 up by the different varieties. The flowers vary in color from 

 white through innumerable shades to dark red, and from single to 

 very double. 



"As stated, the fruit is generally secondary to the blossoms, 

 but there are, nevertheless, several varieties which are grown, 

 partly at least, for the fruit. They have been divided into two 

 classes, based upon the size of the plums, namely, large-fruited 

 and small-fruited. The following named kinds belong to the 

 large-fruited class : Yoro, Hana-ka-mi, Bungo, Kata^-ama-bungo, 

 Kashiwagi. Naniwa-rinshiu, Yatsu-busa, Aujiku. Among the 

 small varieties the following may be named : Gariobai, Kobai, 

 Robai, Ko-mume, Yoshino-ko-mume, Toko-mume, Kaga. As a 

 matter of fact, nearly all of the flowering kinds also yield some 

 fruit, especially those with single and semi-double flowers. All 

 of these plums which have come under my observation have been 

 perfectly round, and have varied from less than an inch to an inch 

 and a half in diameter. In color, thej^ are mostly green or green- 

 ish yellow, though some are white and others red. They are all 

 short-stemmed, and cling closely to the branches, like the peach. 

 The majority are cliug-stones, and in the matter of quality they 

 cannot compare with the varieties of true plum, Prunus trifiora, 

 being rather acid and lacking flavor. They are mostly gathered 

 while green, and are made into uine-boshi by the simple process 

 of pickling in salt." 



III. Prunus Armeniaca. Common Apricot. Fruit var- 

 iable, but smooth at maturity, red or yellow, the sweet and 

 firm flesh free, or very nearly so, from the large, smooth, 

 flat stone. Tree with a round, spreading top and a reddish, 

 cherry-like or peach-like bark ; leaves (Fig. 6) ovate or 

 round-ovate with a short point and sometimes a heart-shaped 

 base, thin and bright green, smooth or very nearly so below, as 

 are the gland-bearing stalks, the margins rather obtusely and 

 mostly finely serrate. Flowers pink-white and borne singly, 

 sessile or very nearly so, preceding the leaves. 



