l6o THE PLUMS OF NEW YORK. 



Botan trees from Burbank, noted that this plum difiFered from the rest 

 and, in order to distinguish it, named it Sweet Botan. The nomenclature 

 of Botan was confused and indefinite and Bailey, in 1894, renamed the 

 new plum Berckmans. As it is very similar to Abundance, still more 

 confusion has arisen in regard to it. Compared with Abundance, Berck- 

 mans is more spreading in growth ; fniit less pointed, with dryer and more 

 insipid flesh; color brighter red and the stone usually freer; but it is neither 

 as productive nor as free from rot. In 1897 the American Pomological 

 Society placed the variety on its fruit list. As Berckmans is inferior to 

 Abundance and ripens at the same season, it is not worth recommending 

 for general planting. It is to be regretted that so distinguished a horti- 

 culturist as Mr. Berckmans is not to have his name perpetuated in a better 

 plum than the one named in his honor. 



BERGER 



Pruiius triflora 



I. Cornell Sta. Bid. 62:20, 21 fig , 31. 1894. 2. Ibid, 106:45, 62, 67. 1896. 3. Ibid, 139:46. 

 1897. 4. Ibid, 175:132, 133 fig. 26. 1899. 5. Texas Sta. Bui. 32:486 fig. 7, 490, 492. 1899. 6. 

 W. N. Y. Hort. Soc. Rpt. 92. 1899. 7. Ohio Sta. Bui. 162:248 fig., 254, 255. 1905. 



Honsmomo i, 2, 3, 4, 5. Red Nagate i, 2 incor. Satsuma i, 2 incor. Shiro Smomo i, 2, 5. 

 Strawberry i, 3, 6. Strawberry 2, 4. Uchi Bene 6. Uchi-Beni i, 2, 5. Uchi-Beni 3, 4. Ura- 

 Beni i, 2, 3, 4, 5. 



his father being Dr. Louis Edouard Berckmans, author of the splendid pomological work, Album 

 de Pomologie, and as noted in Europe as was the son in America, in horticulture and pomology. The 

 younger Berckmans was educated in Tours, Belgium and Paris, attaining distinction as a student 

 in botany. In 1850 father and son came to America and the following year settled at Plainfield, 

 New Jersey. Six years later the son moved to Augusta, Georgia, and established near that place 

 a horticultural plantation, which he called " Fruitlands," the nursery of which has become famous 

 throughout the world. Soon after locating in Georgia, Mr. Berckmans became interested in horti- 

 cultural organizations and later his activities were extended to the promotion of horticulture in 

 the Nation. In 1859 he became a member of the first horticultural society in Georgia. In 1876 

 he helped to organize and was the first president of the Georgia State Horticultural Society, a position 

 which he held until his death. In i860 he became a member of the American Pomological Society 

 and was at once intrusted with important committee work in that organization. His work here 

 was done so well that in 1887 he was elected president of the society and later was four times re- 

 elected. Mr. Berckmans was a member of a number of state and national horticultural and scien- 

 tific organizations other than those named and was an honorary member of many similar societies 

 in Europe. In 1893 he was chosen to make the opening address of the Horticultural Congress held 

 at the World's Fair in Chicago that year. Mr. Berckmans was eminent in entomology as well as 

 in botany and horticulture and was interested in all the sciences. Through much reading, study 

 and travel he became versed in literature and art as well as science. Mr. Berckmans' fellow-workers 

 in horticulture, his business associates and the patrons of his nursery, justly esteemed him for his 

 amiability, integrity and public spiritedness. At his death, November 8, 1910, a well spent life was 

 ended. 



