430 THE SURVIVAL OF THE UNLIKE. [XXVI. 



but in all the years that have passed, no nndoubted 

 hybrids of recognized value for fruit have arisen be- 

 tween the American and European plums. 



I have confused you enough already to spare any 

 allusion to other cultivated types of plums which 

 must some day attract or distract our attention, or to 

 the many botanical perplexities which attach to the 

 subject. It is evident that this complex battle of the 

 plums is only beginning, for the three or four na- 

 tive species and the one Japanese species which are 

 now in commercial cultivation, are of very recent 

 introduction. No less than a thousand varieties of 

 the European plum are known, and each of the other 

 four or five species may be expected to be equally 

 variable. Hybrids will occur. We have an immense 

 country, comprising the widest differences of environ- 

 ment, and nearly all parts of it may be expected, 

 some day, to grow plums of one kind or another. 

 There will be a great mixing and jostling of types, 

 and we cannot foresee the final result ; but I believe 

 that a marked feature of that millennial plum flora 

 will be the imprint of our native species. 



