292 STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



Native plums. 



li'ew if any of these are desirable in Michigan, except, possibly, in localities in 

 which unusual hardiness is requisite. 



Cheney, De Soto, Hawlieye, Moreman, Robinson, and RoUingstone are among the 

 most desirable of these so far as quality and reasonable productiveness are con- 

 cerned. 



Cook (Fav.), Forest Garden, Forest Rose, Nicholas (white), and Prairie Flower 

 have so far proved only moderately productive. 



Garfield is very vigorous, very late, and exceedingly unproductive. It is value- 

 less here. 



Golden Beauty is exceedingly vigorous and enormously productive. The clusters 

 of fruit are very beautiful, but too late to acquire even tolerable flavor within our 

 season. 



Jewell, Makquoketa, Van Buren, Weaver, Wolf, Wyant, Yosemite Purple, and 

 Yosemite Yellow, so far are neither sufficiently productive nor otherwise desirable 

 for this region, so far as tested here. 



Oriental or Japanese plums. 



Abundance is an objectionable name apparently chosen for purposes of trade. 

 Its adoption can only be justified by the fact that it applies to one of the two varie- 

 ties originally introduced to our country as Botan. In common with several other 

 Oriental varieties, although of only medium size and quality, it is so enormously 

 productive that, unless severely thinned, the tree will surely ruin itself by overbear- 

 ing. Ripe b. August, and continues a long time. 



Burbank is similar to the foregoing in habit of growth, though more spreading, 

 the fruit larger and of better quality, and ripening later. It promises to be pro- 

 ductive. 



Burbank 2 is much like Abundance, equally productive, and ripens about the 

 same time. 



Burbank 11 is of finer flavor, larger size, and ripens later, but is less productive. 

 In both tree and fruit it gives indications of a possible admixture of domestica 

 blood. 



Long-Fruited.— Trees received under this name are so far comparatively unpro- 

 ductive, the fruit small and round, ripening July 15. It is perhaps spurious. 



Maru and Shiro Smomo are quite Similar in most respects, though the latter dif- 

 fers in flavor and ripens a few days later. Both are enormously productive. Their 

 fruit is similar to Abundance in general appeai'ance. 



Ogon has pale yellow fruit, slightly larger than the foregoing, but lower in quality. 

 It is similarly productive and ripens about the same time. 



Red Nagate is abundantly productive, and the fruit larger and of higher quality 

 than is the case with most others of its class tested here. It ripens the last of 

 August. 



Satsuma is an oddity among plums. When fully ripe, both skin and pulp are 

 very dark purple. Weight of fruits, two ounces. This, as well as most others of 

 this class, keep unusually well after ripening. 



Yosebe is the earliest plum with which we are acquainted, ripening here this 

 season July 13. Its size is rather small, and quality only passable. So far it is a 

 thin bearer. 



Simon (quoted in catalogues as Prunus Simoni) is not recognized as belonging to 

 either of the foregoing classes. The tree is a fine grower and very productive, and 

 the fruit large and beautiful, but nearly or quite worthless, so far as quality is 

 concerned. 



Pissard (Prunus Pissardi) is only desirable as a novelty on account of the dark 

 purple color of its foliage. 



