The Cultivated ^Native Plums and Cheeeies. 85 



vigor of tree and size, beauty and flnnness of fruit, and one upon 

 its home value as a culinary or dessert fruit. The estimates 

 are expressed in figures, ten being taken to represent the highest 

 excellence. The figures in the first double column were com- 

 piled by myself and were sent to all the correspondents, who 

 marked their disagreements from my estimate. In general, there- 

 fore, it may be said that when a correspondent gives no estimate 

 he agrees with my own; although there are some varieties in each 

 case with which the correspondent was not acquainted, and he 

 should not be held to a strict account for the unreported varieties. 

 Finally, I wish to say that my own estimates are made very 

 largely upon the judgments of Mr. Kerr, of the Chesapeake penin- 

 sula (Maryland), and that all my figures will apply to that region. 



