11 Plums and Plum Culture 



except that of the external characters of the species 

 to warrant such a supposition. 



Doubtless eastern Europe and west-central Asia 

 were the original home of the Domestica plums as 

 we now know them. It seems fairly certain that such 

 old and distinct groups as the Damsons, the Reine 

 Claudes, and the prunes came from that country wear- 

 ing much their present botanical aspects, — though, 

 of course, all have been greatly improved horticul- 

 turally since their arrival in Europe. Koch* thinks 

 that the Prunes were introduced to Hungary from 

 Turkestan about 400 to 450 years ago. The Reine 

 Claudes were introduced later, coming into Europe 

 by way of Italy, France and Germany in this order. 



These plums were introduced into this country 

 from Europe at the establishment of the first colonies, 

 and new strains and varieties have been brought over 

 from time to time ever since. Perhaps the most im- 

 portant separate importation of these plums was that 

 made by the French colonists in Canada, where some 

 of the old French varieties are still propagated pre- 

 cisely as they were brought over. 



The Damsons and the Myrobalans have been 

 included in the same species with the Domesticas by 

 some writers and have been kept separate by some. 

 In this book they are put into separate groups. 



After putting the Damsons and the Myrobalans 

 out of consideration, however, there are several types 

 left, showing somewhat important differences among 

 themselves. We will notice these several types briefly, 

 taking them up as nearly as possible in the order of 

 their prominence. 



The Reine Claude, or Green Gage group— As has 

 already been mentioned, these plums were recognized 



*Die Deutschen Obstgeholze, 146. 1876. This is one of the best 

 works on the subject. 



