124 LUTHER BURBANK 



In that year some of the fruits were measured 

 and found to be eight and a quarter inches in 

 circumference. 



The Beach plum from which this remarkable 

 hybrid was developed is a native of the Atlantic 

 coast of North America, growing on the sands 

 and among rocks near the seashore from Labra- 

 dor to North Carolina. It is known botanically 

 as Prunus maritima. 



It is one of the hardiest and toughest of all 

 known wild plums. It is a low, compact bush, 

 rather than a tree, with rough, even thorny, 

 branches, and small dull green oval leaves. The 

 flowers are small, but are produced in great pro- 

 fusion, making it almost worthy as an orna- 

 mental plant. The fruits, as before stated, are 

 small, usually less than half an inch in diameter; 

 and they are quite commonly bitter, being almost 

 or wholly inedible unless cooked. 



The Beach plum for many years has been 

 known to possess some horticultural possibilities, 

 especially hardiness, productiveness, and general 

 "staying" qualities under the most trying condi- 

 tions. The value of these characteristics was dis- 

 covered soon after my general plum experiments 

 were started, and every effort was made to cross 

 it with some of the larger and finer species. For 

 several years this cross could not be effected, 



