CHICKASAW PLUMS 193 



shining green colour, on liorli Bides. The blose 



generally come «>ut very thick, ami are .-u seded 



by oval, or often somewhat egg-shaped fruit, with 

 a very thin skin, and soft, sweet pulp. There are 

 variel this with yellow and crimson coloured 



fruit. These being natives of the Southern states, 

 are somewhat impatient of much cold." It was later 

 ibed by Michaus as Prunus Chicasa* It is also 

 undoubtedly the plant intended by Rafinesque, when 

 he described Prunus stenophyllus in his "Florida 

 Ludoviciana," in HIT. In a wild state the Little trees 

 or bushes are thorny, and the thorns persist in some 

 of the cultivated varieties. It grows wild, often in 

 dense thickets, from southern Delaware to Florida, 

 and westward to Kansas and Texas. I' is commonly 

 1 in the books that the Chickasaw plum is not 

 native to the Atlantic states, and some suppose that 

 it was introduced into the United States from 

 countries to the south of us. I have been unable 

 to find sufficient reasons Cor these opinions, and I 

 believe that the Bpecies is native to the Southeastern 

 In Maryland, as I have seen it. it behaves 

 like an indigenous plant, and the people regard it 

 as a true native. The small, acerb fruit of tip- 

 thorny and Bcraggly wild bushes is known in Mary- 

 land as "mountain cherry." 



One of th<- firel persons to call attention to the 

 horticultural possibilities of the Chickasaw plum 



. forma 



