PREFACE. Vll 



would have brought much confusion. Only those who have to work with 

 a great number of varieties of fruit can know the chaotic conditions of our 

 pomological nomenclature. One of the aims of the work in hand is to 

 set straight in some degree the great confusion in plum names. 



All synonyms of varieties have been given so far as they could be 

 determined but it did not seem worth while to give all of the references 

 to be found even in standard plum literature. Fewer of these are listed 

 for the leading varieties than in the books on apples or grapes which have 

 preceded, only such being given as have been found of use by the writers 

 or thought of possible use to future plum students. On the other hand 

 some references have been given for all varieties, a task not attempted in 

 The Grapes of New York. 



As in the preceding books the color-plates have been given much at- 

 tention. Work and expense have not been spared to make the plates 

 the best possible with the present knowledge of color-printing. Yet the 

 illustrations are not exact reproductions. The colors are, at best, only 

 approximations; for it is impossible by mechanical processes to reproduce 

 Nature's delicate tints and shades. The camera does not take colors as 

 the human eye sees them ; and the maker of the copper plate can not quite 

 reproduce all that the camera has taken. The colors then depend on the 

 judgment of the printer, who by selecting and mingling colored inks, re- 

 produces as nearly as his materials permit, the shades in his eye and mind; 

 but no two persons see exactly the same colors in any object; so his con- 

 ception may differ much from that of the horticulturist or artist who saw 

 the original plum, as do theirs from each other. Still it is hoped that the 

 color-plates will be of great service in illustrating the text. All of the plums 

 from which the plates were made came from the Station grounds; the 

 illustrations, with a few exceptions which are noted, are of life size, as grown 

 under the conditions existing at this place, and as far as possible all are 

 from specimens of average size and color. 



Acknowledgments are due in particular to the plum-growers of New 

 York who have furnished much information for The Plums of New York; 

 to numerous institutions in all parts of the United States who have loaned 

 botanical specimens; to Professor Charles Sprague Sargent for advice, 

 information and the use of the Arnold Arboretum library and herbarium ; 

 to W. F. Wight of the United States Department of Agriculture, who 

 has given most valuable assistance in describing the species of plums and 

 in giving their range; to the Station Editor, F. H. Hall, who has had 



