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Improvement of the Native Plum. 



fruit is produced from spurs, and in clusters. It is dioecious ; some trees 

 only producing staminate or male flowers, some only pistillate or female 

 flowers. It is also monoecious, flowers of both kinds appearing on the 

 same tree ; while other trees have perfect or hermaphrodite flowers. The 

 last only are worth planting. This peculiarity, I believe, is common to all of 

 our native plums. It is propagated generally from the root-sprouts, which 

 are thrown up in great numbers all around the trees, soon forming a dense 

 grove if left undisturbed ; in which condition most persons consider them 

 to bear best : but the largest and best fruit is obtained when the sprouts 



are kept down. The trees should be planted ten feet apart. 



The Chickasaw Plum, where it has been cultivated north of its natural 

 habitat, is very much inclined to vary from its wild type, not only in color, 

 but in size and quality. One of its sports, known as 



The Newman Flu?n, I consider the greatest improvement yet made on 

 any of our native plums. The tree is a rapid grower, and attains more 

 than double the size of its parent. The fruit is large, or, compared with 

 native plums, very large. The fruit, as represented in the cut, is of about 

 an average size. It is of a beautiful glossy red color, with a delicate pur- 



