182 HORTICULTURAL MANUAL. 



Selected varieties of the native species of the North 

 (Prunus Americana) and of the Chickasaw races of the 

 South, have rapidly come to the front for general culture 

 in the prairie States and to a large extent over the 

 Southern and Eastern States. 



In estimating the quality of our best native plums under 

 culture, we need some new rules for judging. They have 

 a juiciness and sprightliness peculiar to the race, and an 

 invalid can eat, when fully ripe, several of them with 

 satisfaction and without affecting a weak stomach, as do 

 all the foreign varieties. Professor Goff also says truly: 

 " The choicest varieties, peeled and served fresh, are 

 equal to the finest peaches/' Served on the table in this 

 way they can be eaten freely by those who are obliged to 

 use ripe foreign plums and prunes with care and in less 

 quantity. 



For culinary use, if peeled and the pits rejected, such 

 varieties as Wyant, Hart's De Soto, Surprise, and Brittle- 

 wood are superior in some respects to the domestica or 

 Japan varieties for daily use. At first the decision of all 

 educated palates will be in favor of the sweeter and richer 

 foreign fruits. But the pleasant fruit-acid of the native 

 soon wins favor, and it can be eaten as freely as the straw- 

 berry or grape without the after effects of the free use of 

 the foreign sorts. 



Another class of American plums is beginning to attract 

 attention. As noted in section (105) the Americana varie- 

 ties cross readily with those of Japan and produce a 

 desirable union of the good points of each. The pasty 

 flesh of the Japans is given more juice and character in 

 the hybrids and the thick skin of the natives, with more 

 or less acridity, is changed in texture and materially 

 thinned, yet not enough to prevent safe transportation. 

 To an extent not usual in hybridizing, about all the 



