Ill 



The Domestica Plums 



WHOLE chapter might easily be 

 filled with a review of the spec- 

 ulations which have been made 

 concerning the origin and early 

 wanderings of the Domestica 

 plums. The present writer has 

 elsewhere given an entire chap- 

 ter to a bibliography and sum- 

 mary of the early history of the 

 Reine Claude group alone.* It does not seem profit- 

 able, however, at the present time to devote more than 

 a paragraph to matter of such doubtfully practical 

 value. 



The Domestica plums probably had a common 

 origin; and perhaps they were evolved from the Dam- 

 sons, as has been frequently supposed. Possibly, 

 also, the Damsons were evolved from the European 

 Sloe, as has also been guessed; but there is no evidence 



'Gardeners' 



Chronicle, 24:465. ii 

 20 



