Lane 
636 | REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONER OF AGRICULTURE, | 
Satsuma. Rue: 
This is a variety of plum which is native in Japan, and of very © 
recent introduction here. The only tree in bearing in America, so 
far as I have been able to learn, is one on the premises of Luther _ 
Burbank, of Santa Rosa, Cal. The specimens from which the ac- 
companying colored plate- was made (Fig. 2 on Plate 1) grew there. 
The tree looks much like Wild Goose plum, and may prove tobe 
more hardy than Kelsey. This, however, is not yet known, but trees 
will next year be tested in many places both North and South. Tt _ 
bears very abundantly. The fruit is of a pleasant flavor and, unlike ~~ 
‘all plums, either native or foreign, before tested in America, itis  ~ 
red-fieshed. oe 
The stone is remarkably small. The illustration is as true to na- 3 
ture in all respects as art could make it. noe 
Blackman. 
In addition to the statements made last year regarding this variety > 
I have to say that it has continued to prove itself of no value, because 
of the trees being universally and entirely unfruitful. There being ~~ 
some question as to the real character of this variety, early in the ~ 
spring of this year I wrote to several of the most reiablenurserymen 
and fruit-growers of the country for cions from bearing trees on ~ 
their grounds, and requesting them to keep a close watch on the 
behavior of the variety. Mr. W. C. Barry, of Rochester, N. ¥.;. 3 
Hoopes Bros. & Thomas, of West Chester, Pa., and Mr. EK. B. Engle, 
of Marietta, Pa., each sent me specimens. They were all in good 
condition and well supplied with fruit buds, and of the same variety 
which I have without exception seen in the nurseries and orchards é 
of Texas and other States under this name. 4 ; 
Later in the season these parties wrote me that to their astonish- 
ment none of the fruit buds on their trees developed into blooms, but 
dropped off as if they had been killed by frost, when there was no 
frost to killthem. In other words, they seem to have been abortive 
from some natural defect. 
T also addressed Mr. W. M. Clark, of Nashville, Tenn., who I had | 
learned was acquainted with the early history of this so-called plum, 
asking him to report to this division what he knew of the matter, 
and to visit the original tree and send me cions from it. In response 
to this request he sent me the following, under date of March 24, 
1887: 
My mother (Mrs. Charity Clark) visited, just after the war, Dr. James E. Manson, 
a nurseryman of Rutherford County, this State, and brought away some plum 
seeds from an orchard composed of Wild Goose and Washington plums, and gave 
them to Dr. Blackman, who planted them. This tree came up with others,and = 
when it bore fruit it was seen that it was different and superior tothem. Isenda ~ — 
few twigs from two trees, both differing, one never having borne fruit (E mark it~ 
‘“mule’’), the otherthe Blackman plum. Andthereby hangsatale: Mr. J.J. New- 9 
son, a nurseryman here, procured buds from the former tree and widely distributed Re 
the trees propagated from them. The Rose Bank Nurseries, owned by Truett’s t 
Sons, of Morgan, Tenn., sent an agent to Blackman’s and got a large lot of slips 
or cions from the ‘‘ mule,” mistaking the tree, because it resembled the ordinary ~ 
plum less than the genuine tree. Thus we have two Blackman plums, one genuine, 
the other spurious. Of course, those purchasing of the Rose Bank Nursery beiieve 
it to be a humbug, while those buying from Newson must be delighted with it. 
