94 THE PLUMS OF NEW YORK. 



In the region where it is found wild the Maritima plum is a rather 

 common article of trade. The fruit is usually sold by the quart, the price 

 being five or ten cents, and is used for both dessert and culinary purposes 

 though for most part for the latter. 



The species is one of the most variable of the true plums and there 

 is, probably must ever be, much disagreement as to its botanical relation- 

 ships. Several botanical varieties of Prunus maritima have already been 

 named and there are yet groups within the species which seem to be nearly 

 as distinct as those described and possibly worth distinguishing. Since 

 the variations show in the size, color and edible qualities of the fruit, as 

 well as in the characters of the plant, it is to be expected that the species 

 has a horticultural future though at present it has but one cultivated 

 variety Bassett. Professor J. W. Macfarlane of the University of 

 Pennsylvania has shown well the great range of variations in this plum 

 both from botanical and horticultural aspects. 1 He holds that these 

 variations are sufficiently distinct to make many varieties of this plum in 

 the wild, to which DeVries agrees with the statement that they indicate 

 " the existence of separate races as elementary species." ' The plum which 

 Small has described as Prunus gravesii, to be discussed later, is a marked 

 variation of Prunus maritima. 



As it grows on the sea-coast Prunus maritima is a low bush three to 

 six feet high, occasionally reaching a height of ten or twelve feet. Usually 

 the plant is straggling but sometimes it is compact or even tree-like. In- 

 land, on better soils, or under cultivation it makes a rather handsome 

 dwarf tree. The flowers are borne in great numbers, completely covering 

 the plant and coming later than most of the plums bloom. The species 

 bears fruit very abundantly, which is always attractive but of quite diverse 

 value for food. The fruit varies in size from a half to three-quarters of an 

 inch in diameter and is almost spherical, though sometimes oval and with 

 or without a distinct suture. The usual color is a rich bluish -black with 

 a waxy bloom, but red, yellow, amber and orange fruits are often found. 

 In taste the Maritima plums range from inedible to nearly as rich a flavor 

 as is found in the best of the Domestica plums. Besides variations in 

 the above and other qualities, Macfarlane calls attention to the range 

 in ripening of the fruit of this plum, showing that it extends over a period 

 of two months, an exceptionally wide variation for a wild plant. 



1 Cant. Bot. Lab. University of Pa. 2:216. 1899-1900. 



2 DeVries, Hugo Species and Varieties, etc. 57. 1905. 



