The Plums and the Cherries 



thick, grey. Leaves oval, taper pointed, sharply toothed. Flowers 

 in April, before the leaves, in lateral umbels. Fruit globose, red 

 or yellow, with pleasant taste, but covered with leathery, acid 

 and puckery skin. Pit, with two sharp edges. Preferred habitat, 

 moist woods and river banks. Distrihuiion, New York to Texas 

 and Colorado. Uses: Good stocks on which to graft less hardy 

 varieties. Deserves planting as an ornamental, and cultivation 

 to improve its fruit. 



In the woods that bordered the prairie watercourses were 

 occasional open spaces, often swampy m times of high water- 

 Here the wild plum took possession and spread into dense thickets. 

 The timber land about was owned by farmers who lived on the 

 prairies, but the plums belonged by common consent to the com- 

 munity at large, just as did the nut trees and the wild grapes. 



In April these plum thickets were white with bloom. Bees 

 hung over the nectar-laden blossoms, as if intoxicated. Indeed, 

 the fragrance was so sweet it was overpowering; and in hot 

 weather the nectar often fermented and turned sour before 

 the petals fell. It was good luck if a brisk wind were blowing 

 when plum blossoms opened, for experience had taught that 



" You need a breeze 

 To help the bees 

 To set a crop of plums." 



After the bloom, thoughts of plums were banished until the days 



grew shorter and the autumn haze settled on the woods. Then 



came a sharp frost one night, and everybody knew what the 



signal meant. 



" Do you calculate to go a-plummin' this fall?" The question 

 was quietly put in father's judicial tones, but it sent an electric 

 thrill from head to toes of every youngster. Mother's reply 

 sent an answering current, and the enthusiasm of the moment 

 burst all bounds. "Well, you'd better go this afternoon. I can 

 spare the team and wagon, and I guess John is big enough to 

 drive. There's no use in goin' at all if you can't go right off." 



So mother and the children rode out of the yard, she sitting 

 with her young driver on the spring seat, the rest on boards laid 

 across the wagon box behind. What a jouncing they got when 

 the wheels struck a stone in a rut! But who cared for a trifle 

 like that? John's reckless driving but brought nearer the goal 

 of their heart's desire. 



323 



