114 THE PLUM IN KANSAS. 



lana, with its variety, mineri, and P. angustifolia) have furnished 

 nearly all of the cultivated varieties. The Beach plum {P. riiariti'ina) 

 is the parent of but one variety, of doubtful value. The Marianna, so 

 largely used for stocks, and the De Caradeuc are closely related but of 

 uncertain origin. A few varieties are jDrobably hybrids, although the 

 manner in which most of them originated is more a matter of specu- 

 lation than of definite knowledge. There are still other varieties that 

 cannot even be classed as hybrids and whose ancestry is likely to re- 

 main undetermined. 



Professor Bailey, of Cornell, who has given the whole plum group 

 careful study, arranges the native varieties into groups as follows : 



The American group — P. americana. 



The Wild Goose group — P. hortulana. 



The Miner group — P. hortulana. var. mineri. 



The Chickasaw group — P. angustifolia. 



The Marianna group — of uncertain origin. De Caradeuc assigned to P. r-er- 

 asifera, and Marianna thought to be a hybrid. 



The Beach plum — P. hiaritima. 



The wild plum of the Pacific coast — P. subfordata. 



Hybrids, unclassified varieties — of uncertain origin. 



Our foreign introductions belong to two groups, viz.: The European plums, 

 such as Lombard, Green Gage, and the numerous Prunus, to P. domestica; 

 the Japanese plums to P. tri flora. 



While the European plums can be grown in some sections, the 

 tender nature of the fruit-buds makes them uncertain on the eastern 

 slope, except in favored localities, and dependence must be placed 

 mainly upon the americana varieties. In the fruit districts of the 

 western slope the Wild Goose is eminently successful and stands at 

 the head of the list of profitable varieties, but it is probably too 

 tender for the eastern slope, certainly for the northern and central 

 districts. 



In general throughout the West the native plums are proving 

 profitable. Even in districts where the domestica varieties are suc- 

 cessfully grown, the native Red plums sell in competition with them, 

 and at remunerative prices. While it may be admitted that most na- 

 tive varieties are inferior in size and flavor to those of the domestica 

 class, it should be remembered that the extended introduction of the 

 natives is comparatively recent, that the imiarovement in them has 

 been rapid, and that they offer wonderful possibilities in the direction 

 of future development. All the better varieties are very productive. 

 Some show a strong tendency to excessive production, a habit which, 

 if allowed to go unchecked, not only gives inferior fruit, but tends to 

 shorten the life of the tree. With such varieties systematic thinning 

 must be practiced in order to insure regular crops and fruit of the 

 largest size and best flavor. Then, having produced good fruit, if the 



