72 DIALYPETALOUS EXOGEXS 



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it now is, if people were a little more attentive to such matters. 

 Indeed, it is melancholy to reflect how thoughtless and negligent 

 mankind generally are, with respect to providing fruit for themselves. 

 There are few persons who do not own or occupy sufficient ground 

 to admit of 3 or 4 choice fruit-trees, and a grape vine ; such, for 

 instance, as an Apricot, a Peach, a May-duke Cherry, a Catharine 

 Pear, and a Catawba Grape: yet the great majority seem never to 

 think of planting such trees, while they are ready enough to in- 

 vade the premises, and revel on the fruits, of some more provident 

 neighbor ! It is due to the minor morals of the community, that 

 such disreputable negligence, and such marauding practices, should 

 cease to be tolerated, 



2. A. DASYcXuFA, Pers. Leaves ovate or oval, acute, doubly ser- 

 rate ; flowers pedicellate. 

 HAIRY-FRUITED ARMENIACA. Black Apricot. 



Stem 10 to 15 feet high, with rather slender branches, and a spreading bushy top. 

 Leaves 2 to near 3 inches long; petioles about an inch in length. Drupes subglo- 

 bose, hairy, dark purplish color when mature. 

 Hob. Yards, and gardens. Nat. Country unknown. Fl. April. Fr. July. 



Obs. This species has more of the habit of a Prunus, or Plum 

 tree, than the preceding, and is reputed to be a more certain fruit- 

 bearer; though I have not found it so. 



112. PRUNUS, Tournef. 

 [The classical Latin name for the Plum.] 



Calyx campanulate, 5-cleft. Petals 5, spreading. Stamens 15 to 

 30. Drupe ovoid, oblong, or globose, glabrous, mostly covered 

 with a glaucous bloom ; nut compressed, both edges acute. Small 

 trees : leaves convolute in the bud ; flowers mostly preceding the 

 leaves. 



1. P. D,OMSTICA,,L. Branches unarmed ; leaves lance-ovate, acute, 

 serrate; pedicels subsolitary. 



DOMESTIC PRUNUS. Common Plum. Damascene; Gage> &c. 



Stem 8 to 12 or 15 feet high, branching. Leaves 1 to 3 inches long; petioles half 

 an inch to an inch or more in length. Drupes oval, ovoid or obovoid, of various 

 colors, from bluish-black to copper-color and pale yellowish-green, covered with 

 bloom, the flesh rather firm. 

 Hob. Yards, and gardens. Nat. of Europe. FL April. Fr. Aug. 



Obs. Several varieties of this are cultivated ; but the depredations 

 of insects render the fruit, generally, an uncertain crop, in country 

 places. 



2. I*. Ainericsiua, Marsh. Branches subspinose; leaves oval 

 and obovate, acuminate, sharply and often doubly serrate ; umbels 

 subsessile, 2- to 5-flowered. 



AMERICAN PRUNUS. Red Plum. Yellow Plum. 



Stem 8 to 12 or 15 feet high, much branched, the young branches virgate, the 

 old ones rugged and somewhat thorny. Leaves 2 to 3 inches long ; petioles ]/to% 

 an inch long. Drupes oval or subglobose, mostly reddish-orange color, nearly des- 

 titute of bloom, with a rich succulent yellow pulp, and a thick tough acerb skin. 

 #&, Banks of. streams, and. thickets; frequent. Fl. April. Fr. Aug. 



