NEW PLUMS AND PRUNES 133 



best cranberries, which they resemble also in 

 color. 



When crossed with the Japanese, American, 

 and European plums, a large and handsome 

 fruit is developed, the form being usually nearly 

 globular, but sometimes oval. The trees of these 

 crosses are also greatly improved over the wild 

 ones in form, size, and symmetry of growth. 

 They are always hardy and vigorous, and are 

 as a rule exceptionally prolific. 



For jellies and canning these hybrid fruits 

 are probably superior to any other class of 

 plums, and a few of them are most excellent 

 when eaten uncooked. In particular one which 

 I have recently distributed under the name 

 "Nixie" is valuable for use in any form. 



The California wild plum has also had an im- 

 portant part in the production of the new varie- 

 ties known as Combination, East, and Glow, all 

 plums which exhibit the superior quality of the 

 wild parent. 



Thus have the native plums of the United 

 States been used in producing new varieties. 



The European species, though used to a 

 slightly less extent, have produced results of 

 even wider value. 



The early settlers either because they did 

 not expect to find plums in America, or because 



