10 



386 YEARBOOK OF THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



demonstrated its usefulness and adaptability to conditions in all of 

 these States. It ripens somewhat later than "Rivers," and will 

 probably replace that sort in market orchards, as it is of firmer texture 

 and much more resistant to rot. 



RED JUNE PLUM. 



(SYNONYMS: Red Nagate, of some; Shiro Smomo, of some; Nagate no Botankyo, 



Hytankayo, of some). 



[PLATE XLIX.j 



Among the more newly introduced Japanese plums that have been 

 sufficiently tested to determine their commercial value in diverse loca- 

 tions, perhaps none has attained to the rank occupied by this early 

 sort. According to Prof. L. H. Baile}^, it was introduced from Japan 

 by H. H. Berger & Co. This introduction appears to have been under 

 the name " Shiro Smomo" and occurred about 1887. It was also 

 received from Japan by Dr. J. T. Whitaker, of Tyler, Tex., at about 

 the same time, under the name "Hytankayo," The variety does not 

 appear to have attracted special attention until about 1892, when trees 

 of it, obtained under the name "Shiro Smoino," were fruited by Stark 

 Brothers, at Louisiana, Mo., who were strongly impressed with its 

 value as a commercial sort. They at once propagated it extensively, 

 and introduced it under the name "Red June" in 1893. It is a strongly 

 marked variety, ripening in advance of Abundance, and enduring well 

 the vicissitudes of commercial transportation. Though not of high 

 dessert quality in the fresh state, it cooks well and forms an excellent 

 substitute for the damson when canned or preserved. The specimen 

 shown on PI. XLIX was grown by Mr. George E. Murrell, at 

 Fontella, Va. 



DESCRIPTION. 



Form roundish cordate, conical, often unequal, with a distinct point; 

 size medium or slightly above medium; surface smooth, glossy, car- 

 mine, deepening to dark wine red when fully ripe, and covered with a 

 bluish-white bloom; cavity regular, of medium size and slope; stem 

 of medium length, rather stout; suture usually deep; apex prominent; 

 skin thick, tenacious, slightly bitter; stone oval, pointed, of medium 

 size, tightly adherent to flesh; flesh yellowish, translucent, with 'yel- 

 low veins; rather meaty, though tender and juicy; flavor subacid, 

 pleasant; quality good. 



The tree is an upright, spreading grower, vigorous and hardy, pro- 

 ducing well in most plum-growing sections, though blooming very 

 early in middle and southern latitudes, and, therefore, somewhat subject 

 to frost injury in spring. It is probably benefited by cross pollina- 

 tion, and should be planted with such varieties as Burbank, Abun- 

 dance, Chabot, 01 Satsuma, which Professor Waugh, of the Vermont 



