The Myrobalan Plums 37 



variety is not one to be recommended anywhere, ex- 

 cept for stocks. The other varieties of the same group, 

 as far as I have examined them, are no better. Hattie, 

 which is also somewhat anomalous, does not consti- 

 tute an exception to this depreciation. With all the 

 early advantages which the Myrobalan plum has had 

 it would seem as though it might have done better; 

 and I do not look for any considerable additions to 

 our variety catalogue from this quarter. 



The Pissard plum is generally understood to 

 belong to the Myrobalan group, though it is often 

 rated as a separate botanical variety {Primus cerasifera 

 pissardi). It is notable chiefly for its decorative 

 foliage, for which qualitv it receives mention in Chap- 

 ter XXV. 



The Myrobalan, however, seems to be of some 

 promise for blending with other species in hybridiza- 

 tion. Mr. Burbank has sent me specimens of several 

 fairly acceptable varieties which numbered the Myrob- 

 alan among their miscellaneous parents. There are 

 some valuable qualities which are characteristic of 

 the species, and if they can be saved while the bad 

 qualities are discarded in hybridization, we may still 

 live to see the day when we shall be glad, as fruit 

 growers and fruit eaters, that we have had the Myrob- 

 alan plum. 



