Macfarlane — The Beach Plum. 217 



where accordingly they are all exposed to apparently like 

 environmental conditions, the case becomes one of exceptional 

 interest and perplexing explanation. Such a case is that now 

 before us. 



The Beach Plum {Pninus vianthnd) is abundant along the 

 coast regions of the Eastern States from Virginia to New 

 Brunswick. During the past eight years the writer has 

 studied it at Cape May Point, Ocean View, Island Heights, 

 Martha's Vineyard and near Falmouth, Mass. In these 

 localities it may cover areas from ten to two hundred acres in 

 extent, often to the exclusion of other plants. Considerable 

 information has also been obtained for me by Mr. H. S. 

 Conard and Mr, George Wilson, from Wildwood, Cape Cod 

 and Plymouth, at all of which places it is abundant. It is 

 usually met with, and seems most prolific, in expanses of soft 

 often drifting sand in sight of the sea, or even along the shore, 

 where it may at times be washed by ocean water. Downing 

 says^ it is "found mostly on the sandy seashore, from Massa- 

 chusetts to Virginia, and seldom ripening well elsewhere." 

 In New Jersey it may be got sparingly at considerable 

 distances from the sea. Between Manumuskin and Maurice 

 River, about eight miles from sea water, Mr. Le Boutillier has 

 drawn my attention to a number of bushes, some of them old 

 and of large size. At May's Landing, about fifteen miles 

 from the sea, it is not uncommon, and flowers profusely. 

 East of Atco, N. J., about forty-two miles from the sea, are 

 a few apparently wild bushes that look healthy, and are said 

 to fruit well. In all of the above localities the soil is a light 

 loose sand, that makes walking heavy and tiresome. 



How the plants reached the two or three last-named 

 localities it is impossible to say. Possibly they represent plant 

 islands left as the ocean has retreated. Possibly the fruit 

 stones were scattered by Indians, who may have brought the 



^ Encyclopjedia, Vol. II, p. 889. 



