226 Macfarlanc — TJic Beach Plum, Viewed 



ties, such as No. 7, average about 3.50 grams. It seems not 

 unreasonable to suppose, therefore, that excellent starting 

 points for future efforts in cultivation already exist among 

 native strains. 



Features specially commending it for cultivation are its con- 

 stant growth amid loose, open sand, and in proximity to or in 

 immediate contact with the sea. As shown in Plates XX and 

 XXI, it fruits heavily, while the quality of the finer varieties 

 excels that of any other native fruit, in the writer's estimation. 



Along the sea front, from New Jersey to Massachusetts, 

 many thousands of quarts are gathered annually, which are 

 used in part as a delicious table fruit, but in larger part are 

 converted into jelly preserves. Through the kindness of 

 friends I have learned that a considerable trade in the fruit 

 exists along the Cape Cod and Plymouth coasts, where it is 

 sold at from five to ten cents a quart, so that already it is a 

 commercial article. 



By judicious cultivation and selection it is certain that many 

 and finer varieties might be secured, since the plant in the 

 wild state has already developed so favorably. The species 

 seems to have been selected in nature as a type of fruit-plant 

 that is specially adapted to its surroundings. The environ- 

 mental areas covered by it include hundreds of thousands of . 

 acres of our eastern shore land, where no other fruit plant 

 naturally grows, if we except in places the sand dewbeny. 

 Its roots often travel far and act as good sand binders, as well 

 as extensively ramified absorbents of soil food. 



Against these commendable qualities are to be reckoned 

 two objectionable features which might, for some varieties 

 only, militate against their economic value. One of these is 

 the soft, pulpy consistence of the fruits in such types as Nos. 

 5-7 of the preceding table. Thus when the fruit is 

 plucked from the stalk, considerable "bleeding" occurs, if 

 these are heaped on a dish or in a basket for a few hours. If, 



