ORIENTAL PLUMS 21 



the earlier hybrids in one or many desired 

 qualities, 



THE QUARTET OF "BEST" PLUMS 



And in the course of years there were found at 

 least three new varieties, all of the most complex 

 ancestry, that excelled any of their forerunners. 



The three new claimants, which stand as the 

 finest products of plum development up to date, 

 have been named the Santa Rosa, the Formosa, 

 and Beauty. 



These with the Wickson may be listed as un- 

 qualifiedly the best products of the experiments 

 in plum hybridization up to date a quartet of 

 plums of matchless quality. 



It must be understood, however, that there are 

 unfulfilled possibilities of future development 

 among the newer hybrids. Selection has gone on 

 year after year until the plums that remain are 

 all of almost infinitely complex ancestry and of 

 fine individual quality. New crossings between 

 the almost numberless varieties, or even new 

 seedlings without further crossing, may result 

 any year in producing a better plum than any 

 hitherto produced. Indeed, this is to be ex- 

 pected, for in a sense the work is only begun. 



Even by hastening the time of fruiting 

 through grafting seedlings on small branches in 



