230 STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



length, but upon the more vigorous cultivated varieties, as the Newman, 

 the leaf-blades are often three inches long and nearly flat. In herbarium 

 specimens the species is usually recognized by the two halves of the leaves 

 being pressed together so that the upper surface is hidden. In a wild state 

 the trees or bushes are thorny, and the thorns persist in some of the culti- 

 vated varieties. It grows wild, often in dense thickets, from southern 

 Delaware to Florida, and westward to Kansas and Texas. It is commonly 

 stated in the books that the Chickasaw plum is not native to the Atlantic 

 states, and some suppose that it was introduced into the United States 

 from countries to the south of us. I have been unable to fiod sufficient 

 reasons for these opinions, and I believe that the species is native to the 

 southeastern states. In Maryland, as I have seen it, it behaves like an 

 indigenous plant, and the people regard it as a true native. The small 

 acerb fruit of the thorny and straggly wild bushes is known in Maryland 

 as " Mountain Cherry." 



This species, like Pruniis Americana, was founded by Humphey Mar- 

 shall in 1785. His description is as follows: ^^ Primus angusHj'olia. 

 Chickasaw Plumb. This is scarcely of so large a growth as the former 

 [P. Americana^ but rising with a stiff, shrubby stalk, dividing into many 

 branches, which are garnished with smooth lance-shaped leaves, much 

 smaller and narrower than the first kind [P. Americana~\\ a little waved 

 on their edges, marked with very fine, slight, colored serratures, and of an 

 'equal, shining green color, on both sides. The blossoms generally come 

 out very thick, and are succeeded by oval, or often somewhat egg-shaped 

 fruit, with a very thin skin, and soft, sweet pulp. There are varieties of 

 this with yellow and crimson colored fruit. These being natives of the 

 southern states, are somewhat impatient of much cold." 



73. African. — Medium to rather large, round-oblong, dark red; leaves Bmall, short 

 obi ODg lanceolate, Early to medium. Originated under cultivation by G. Onderdonk, 

 South Texas, and introduced by him in 1870. C. 



74. Arkansas Lombard. — Medium round or round-oblong, red; leaves medium, ovate- 

 oblong. Early to medium, ripening just before Newman. Arkansas. Said to have 

 been introduced by J. D. Morrow & Sons. 



75. Caddo Chief. — Medium or rather small, round, red; leaves medium in size, short, 

 ovate-oblong. Very early, ripening with Early Richmond cherry. Wild from Caddo 

 parish, Louisiana. Introduced by G. W. Stoner. Blooms and ripens very early. In 

 northern Texas the fruit is ripe the middle of May. C. 



76. Cnletta. — Medium to large, round-oblong, light red; leaves small, oblong-lanceo- 

 late. Tree somewhat thorny. Early or very early. Originated under cultivation in 

 southern Texas by G. Onderdonk, who introduced it in 1874. Ripens with Caddo 

 Chief. C. 



77. Early Red. — Medium, round, red; leaves medium, oblong-lanceolate. Early or 

 very early. Origin southern Texas under cultivation by G. Onderdonk; introduced by 

 him in 1872. Tliere is a Russian plum {Primus domestica), introduced by Professor 

 Budd, known as Early Red. C. 



78. El Paso. — Medium, round, red; leaves medium, ovate-oblong. Ripens during 

 July and August in southern Texas. Originated and introduced by Lee Beaty, Texas. 



79. Emerson's Early. — Rather large, round, purple-red, skin very thin; cling. Said 

 to be a good market sort. Very early. Wild variety from northern Texas. Intro- 

 duced by Mr. Bruce. Similar to Lone Star, but a better grower. 



80. Hoffman. — Medium to rather large, round, purple-red; leaves medium, oblong- 

 lanceolate. Mid-season too late. A wild variety from southwestern Missouri. " Very 

 sure and prolific [in Texas]." — Munson. Ripe in northern Texas the middle of July, 

 later than the Wild Goose. , 



