60 THE PLUMS OF NEW YORK. 



The domestication of these plums began less than a century ago, 

 not through direct efforts in breeding them but as the result of the selection 

 of the best of the wild or chance trees found in many widely separated 

 localities. It would be most interesting to follow in detail the introduction 

 of variety after variety of this species into cultivation, giving full credit 

 to the men, many of them pioneers in newly settled countries, through 

 whose efforts the amelioration of the species was begun. But space forbids, 

 and the reader who desires to trace more fully the history and the evolution 

 of these plums must put together the histories of the two or three hundred 

 varieties of Americanas described in the chapters on varieties. 



Are the Americanas to compete with the Domesticas, Insititias and 

 Trifloras where all may be grown? It is very doubtful or at least not soon. 

 The Old World plums are so superior, speaking generally, in size, appear- 

 ance, and flavor, the qualities which appeal to those who eat plums, that 

 the native varieties stand small chance for popular favor. Their place 

 in pomology must long remain the region where the older and more highly 

 developed groups of plums cannot be grown. Though there are now 

 many times more of the Americana plums under cultivation than of the 

 recently introduced Trifloras, the latter are more popular and are likely 

 to remain so in localities where both can be grown. 



The range of Prunus americana is seemingly increasing, making it 

 almost impossible to give its present limits. The boundary line of its 

 northern range passes through central New York to central Michigan, 

 southern Wisconsin, Minnesota and South Dakota extending northwest- 

 ward to Manitoba and reaching its western limit in Utah. It occurs locally 

 southward through Colorado to northern New Mexico. It is rare in Okla- 

 homa and does not occur in Texas, but is represented in Missouri by a 

 pubescent form. East of the Mississippi River the typical species occurs 

 in all of the states from central New York southward to northern Florida. 

 In this great territory it is found in many diverse soils and exposures but 

 responding in all to good soil and congenial environment. In the wild state 

 the Americana plums are most often found along the borders of streams 

 and swamps or in bottom lands where moisture abounds. Sometimes they 

 are found in swamps which may be submerged a part of the year. In spite 

 of a predilection for moist lands, however, the wild plants are not in- 

 frequently found on comparatively dry uplands, seeming to prefer soils 

 containing considerable lime. The wild trees are usually found in thickets, 

 often of considerable extent. 



