DR. J. R. CARDWKLL. 27 



The Oregon crab apple (Pyrus rivularis) is found on cold 

 marshy ground, bordering ponds, mountain springs, and 

 streams, and when favorably situated is a good sized tree and 

 attains a diameter of one foot and an altitude of twenty feet. 

 Its rich green spreading top in the season bears heavily a 

 small, oval, golden-colored apple, which when ripe is eaten 

 by the Indians, and was used in early times by the white 

 settlers for making preserves, jelly, and vinegar. This 

 species has been hybridized and improved by some of our 

 nurserymen, and no doubt will be further improved, which 

 may lead to a valuable variety in the future. 



The Oregon wild plum (Prunus subcordata), of which 

 there are two or three varieties, was much valued in early 

 times for its fruit to eat green, for preserves, and jam. 

 This plum for quality is about the same as the native red 

 plum of the Middle West, and has been improved by 

 selection and cultivation; was used formerly by nursery- 

 men for stock on which to graft the plum and prune. The 

 tree grows to a height of ten or fifteen feet. Another 

 variety produces a round fruit nearly an inch in diameter; 

 another an oblong, resembling in shape, color, and quality 

 the Damson, and by those who use them preferred to that 

 variety. Of these something may be expected from hybrid- 

 izing and cultivation. 



We have two or more species of wild cherries; one, 

 Cerasus demissa, a shrub or small tree bearing a purplish 

 black fruit, very much resembling the choke cherry, 

 though of much better quality and edible; is used to some 

 extent in marmalade; its roots have been used as stock to 

 work improved varieties upon. The other, Cerasus emar- 

 ginati, sometimes attains to the dignity of a tree one foot 

 in diameter and thirty to forty feet high, and bears a 

 roundish, black cherry about one third of an inch in 

 diameter, bitter and astringent. 



