Other Kinds of Plums 87 



resented by a large and variable species, Primus 

 maritime!, ranging from New Brunswick to Virginia, 

 and occurring again in a detached area at the head of 

 Lake Michigan. From Virginia southward into Ala- 

 bama, the same type is represented by what Dr. Small 

 calls another species, and which he names Primus 

 injiiciinda* The examination of a limited amount of 

 material, however, leaves me with the opinion that this 

 so-called species is rather to be considered as a closely 

 related sub-group of the Beach plum. At any rate, 

 it represents the same general class. Another closely 

 related type is Primus gravesii, also described by Dr. 

 Small. This is found only on a very restricted area 

 near New London, Connecticut, and does not promise 

 to be of much immediate value to the plum breeder. 



There are other rather striking variations among 

 the Beach plums which have not yet been described 

 botanically.t All these divergencies from the main 

 type, however, have a special interest for the plum 

 student, because they show the natural variability of 

 the species. It is a species very apt to break out in 

 new forms ; and it doubtless holds many strange possi- 

 bilities yet in store. Several of our best plum special- 

 ists are now at work with this group, and are full of 

 faith that they shall some day reap some good results. 



The fruit of the best wild forms of the Beach plum 

 is round, black, about half an inch in diameter, and 

 fairly agreeable to the taste. It does not seem to have 

 been collected and used for culinary purposes so often 

 as most wild plums ; but I doubt if this is the fault of 

 the fruit itself. It has been due rather to circum- 

 stances, I fancy. 



There is a single named variety of the Beach plum 

 in commerce. This is Bassett (Bassett's American). 



*John K. Small. Torrey Bot. Club Bulletin, 25:149. 1898. 

 tSee Vermont Experiment Station Report, 12:234. 1899. 



