146 SrS'l KMA'I IC POMOlAXiY 



nont niidrili; mar^nn cronato; pctiolo sliorl, thick, with 4 lar^c ploV)ose 

 plands on the stalk. FU)\vers appoariiif^ very early, siiiall, pinkish-white; 

 borne singly or in pairs. Fruit early; \'']\ by 2 inches in size, oblate, com- 

 pressed; cavity deep, wide, russet ed; suture swollen near the apex which 

 is depressed; purplish-red, overspread with waxy bloom; stem thick, char- 

 acteristically short; skin tough, bitter; flesh yellow, juicy, tough, firm, 

 mild subacid with a peculiar aromatic flavor; stone clinging, round, turgid, 

 with rough surfaces; ventral suture narrow, with distinct wing; dorsal 

 suture blunt or acute, not grooved. 



209. Horticultural characters of Simon's plum. — The {general 

 aspect of the tree of this species is more tliat of the peach than 

 of the plum, and the drupes are as much like apricots or nec- 

 tarines as plums; hut, when all characters are considered, the 

 fruit can be classed better Avith the plums than ^vith any of 

 the other stone-fruits named. Simonii is widely grown in 

 America for its fruits, but has not become popular, only one 

 variety of the species being now under cultivation. The plums 

 lack palatability and the trees are subject to too many pests. 

 P. Simonii has been successfully hybridized with P. salicina, 

 and, as secondary crosses, its blood has been mingled with that 

 of some of the native species as well. Most of its hybrid oif- 

 spring have more value than the parent, for nearly all of them 

 are free from its disagreeable taste. 



Americana plums. 



The Americana is the predominating native plum both in the 

 wild and under cultivation. It flourishes in nearly all soils and 

 exposures, and is wild or cultivated from Maine to Florida, and 

 northward from INIexico along the eastern slope of the Rocky 

 Mountains, well into Canada. There are many varieties under 

 cultivation. 



210. The botanical characters of P. americana. — Since there 

 are several native plums now to be described, the botanical 

 characters must be given in detail. 



6. Prunus americana, Marsh. (Plate VIII) Tree attaining a height of 

 30 feet; bark grayish-brown, shaggy with large scales giving a charac- 

 teristic aspect; branches crooked, long, often pendulous at the extremities, 

 more or less thorny; lenticels numerous, large and distinct. Leaves oblong- 

 obovate, acuminate at the apex and rounded at the base, becoming coria- 

 ceous; margins sharply serrate, the coarse and double serrations charac- 



