20 THE PLUM IN KANSAS. 



equal in all respects to the choicest plums of foreign species, with 

 the advantage that they will be more hardy and more uniformly pro- 

 ductive. 



I would not prejudice any against the European or Japanese plums. 

 Let all grow them who can. But I would remove the prejudice that 

 exists in the minds of some, that the best natives are unworthy of 

 culture where the foreign plums can be grown. The large market 

 demand for the best native plums that have grown up in the West 

 fully disproves such a proj^osition. Let us treat our native plums 

 for what they unquestionably are — a most promising fruit, that is 

 destined to play a most important part in American pomology ; let us 

 seek to improve them by every means known to horticulture, and 

 their future will certainly take care of itself. 



THE NATIVE SAND PLUM. 



From Press Bulletin No. 6, Kansas Experiment Station, 1898. 



Among the native fruits of Kansas there is none more interesting 

 or valuable than the Sand plum {P. inatsoiii). Distributed abun- 

 dantly over the western half of the state, it borders the streams and 

 covers the adjacent sand-hills, sometimes extending into the clay up- 

 lands, but always at a loss of vigor in growth and quality of fruit. 



In its natural habit it attains a height of from two to eight feet, 

 having usually a tree-like form, though often branching and bearing 

 fruit from ground to top. Branches horizontal, with a tendency to 

 zigzag and tangled growth, and often terminating in sharp, sjoiny 

 points. Twigs slender, of cherry-red color, and abundantly supplied 

 with lenticels. Leaves thick, glabrous, very finely serrate, serrations 

 sometimes so pointed as to be spiny. In shape leaves are usually 

 •acutely lanceolate, in length varying from one-half to two and one- 

 half inches, and in habit conduplicate or trough-like when exposed 

 to brilliant sunlight, but almost flat in dim light. Blossoms small, 

 occurring in dense clusters in early spring. Fruit oblong to round, 

 yellowish pink to dark red, one-half to one and one-fourth inches in 

 diameter, ripening from July 1 to September 15. Stem one-fourth 

 to three-fourths inch long, slender. Pit small, roundish to long, 

 slender and pointed. The plant propagates most rapidly by sprouts 

 from the roots. If a specimen is dug from a thicket, it will generally 

 be observed to have but a single large root, eight or ten inches below 

 the surface, which extends to it and jDasses on, supporting perhaps 

 half a dozen other bushes. 



The Sand plum has varied into many types. But it has not pro- 



