Thb Cultivated [Native Plums and Chebkies. 103 



erect and attains the height of four feet. It is so unlike the type 

 that I have been inclined to regard it as a new species." On the 

 dimes along Lake Michigan Primus puniila grows more erect than 

 those described by Professor Porter, but they always have a pros- 

 trate base over which the sand drifts. P. cuneata grows at Ithaca 

 in a dryish hill swamp, and it whoUy lacks the habit and appear- 

 ance of the common species. 



The tliird dwarf cherry is the Eocky Mountain plant to which 

 I hi,\e already referred, and evidently the same as the one which 

 I'rofessor Bessey has described from the plains of Nebraska. This 

 jjlant is not mentioned in the Rocky Mountain botanies, although 

 there can be no doubt that it is wild in Colorado and Utah. Dr. 

 G. C. I*arry collected it in eastern Colorado in 1807, and apparently 

 the same was found somewhere in the Rocky Mountains, presuma- 

 bly in Colorado, in 1888, by S. M. Tracy. A. S. Fuller also men- 

 tions it in the article to which I have already referred. He 

 obtained the seed from Utah. As compared with Pmnus pumila, 

 he found this Utah cherry to be " more erect, none of the branches 

 trailing as in the species." Gripson* spealis of the native wild 

 Colorado dwarf cherry as bearing a f niit " especially valuable for 

 pies and preserves, and is often pleasant to eat from the hand. 

 It is wonderfully productive, and will survive aU changes and 

 vicissitudes of the most exacting climate." It is interesting to 

 find that this plant was collected so long ago a& 183l>, by Geyer, 

 in Mcollet's famous expedition, being found on " arid, sandy hill- 

 sides of the upper MissourL" 



The affinity of this western plant is with Prunus pumila, but 

 it differs from that species, and I am inclined to regard it as a 

 distinct botanical variety, if not, indeed, a distinct species. It is 

 a low, straggling more or less prostrate plant, the tops rising 

 only a foot or two ta the plaias form, the flowers small, ihe leaves 

 much like those of P. pumuila, except that they are much shorter 

 (one to two inches long) and spatulate or elliptic when fully grown, 

 the fruit large upon short stems. This plant is so little known 

 that I do not venture to give it a name. Growing in our garden, 

 it has more the aspect and light color of P. cuneata, but its thick 



* Horticulture by Irrigation, 62. 



