358 Plums and Plum Culture 



winter, and in the spring is covered with masses of 

 pure w r hite flowers, followed by ample bright foliage 

 and abundant showy fruit." 



"As an ornamental shrub or small tree, Primus 

 allcghanensis deserves a place in the garden for its 

 abundant flowers and handsome fruit." 



The Bird cherry, Primus pcnnsylvanica, is said to 

 be "a handsome, shapely, though short-lived tree, 

 which in early spring is conspicuous for the great 

 quantity of flowers which cover its branches." 



The choke-cherry is said to be "a handsome 

 plant," and the black cherry, Primus serotina, is spoken 

 of as "one of the stateliest and most beautiful trees of 

 the eastern woods." 



"The beauty of the foliage of the mock orange, 

 Pnmus caroliniana, its early and abundant flowers and 

 the rapidity of its growth, make it a favorite garden 

 plant in the southern states, where it has been used 

 from early times to decorate the neighborhood of 

 dwellings and to form hedges, for which purpose it is 

 well adapted by its rigid leaves and by- its power of 

 withstanding the effects of annual primings." 



Of the Islay, Prunus ilicifolia, which may also be 

 called 'a sort of plum, Professor Sargent says: "Few 

 of the broad-leaved evergreens of North America are 

 more beautiful or better suited to adorn a garden." 



Such opinions might be multiplied from other 

 sources, showing how the best critics regard the plum 

 and cherry trees as beautiful and interesting objects 

 in the garden. We have all heard how the Japanese 

 people love the plum and the cherry blossoms, how 

 they plant these trees in their gardens and grow them 

 in pots, and how they celebrate every year a cherry- 

 blossom festival. The plum and cherry blossoms of 

 the orient seem to make much the same impression on 

 the visiting foreigner, for we have learned that when 



