218 Macfarlane—Ti he Beach Plum, Viewed 
fruits from the ocean front. The numerous remains of Indian 
camps at Maurice River might suggest the latter, which would 
be strengthened by the knowledge we have of extensive Indian 
migrations. 
Fully six years ago, near Island Heights Junction, my 
attention was attracted by the extensive areas covered by the 
plant. Just before leaving the locality in the middle of 
August the fruits were becoming ripe. The extreme variations 
shown in size, shape, color, taste, consistence, and maturation 
period, suggested the desirability for further observation. 
Four years ago, at Martha’s Vineyard and Falmouth, additional 
facts were obtained, but the most careful and extensive studies 
were made during last and the preceding summers at Cape 
May Point. Immediately south of the last named locality are 
hundreds of acres of loose sandy soil adjoining the shore, and 
covered with continuous growths of the plum, or this inter- 
spersed with gnarled and weird-looking specimens of the Red 
Cedar. The earlier varieties begin to ripen there from August 
10 to 20, anda continuous supply can be had till September Io. 
Thereafter a few good varieties may continue to ripen till 
September 20, but after that date an abundance can be had 
only of a hard, greenish-purple variety of medium to small 
size, that sweetens imperfectly late in October. 
The Beach Plum is a bush that ordinarily grows to a height 
of five feet to six feet, and may then be from ten to twenty or 
twenty-five years old. Plants from ten feet to twelve feet 
high are occasional, and indicate an age of fifty to sixty 
years. These latter asa rule bear fruit as abundantly as do 
the younger specimens. As shown by Plate XX the fruits 
mature in close-set clusters on the older wood, each cluster 
being made up of several minor clusters of two to five. These 
give to the bushes in autumn an extremely rich aspect. 
My studies as yet have been mainly confined to fruit and 
stone variations, and these alone will be treated in the present 
