Pies ETERS, 
WHAT IS PRUNUS INSITITIA? 
I AM somewhat at a loss to understand the criticism which Dr. Rydberg 
offers in the December GAZETTE upon my conclusions regarding Prunus insiti- 
tia Linn. as set forth in the GAZETTE of last June. He says: “If Professor 
Waugh had said that P. znsititia is the same as P. domestica damascena ... 
would have been the last to criticise.’’ This is precisely what I did say; and 
it is a conclusion upon which I still insist. 
My reasons for this conclusion are so fully set forth in the article of last 
June that they need not be reiterated here. As Dr. Rydberg has appealed to 
the European literature, however, I may call attention to the fact that this was 
somewhat fully cited in my original article ; and that special prominence was 
given tothe opinions of Koch, whom Dr. Rydberg properly calls “ the acknowl- 
edged authority in Germany.” In citing Koch I directed attention to the 
peculiar fact that his opinion in 1869* was contradicted by his opinion in 1876." 
In this latest study of his, which gives the clearest view of the European 
fruit flora with which I am acquainted, Koch says in so many words that 
Prunus insititia “is a Damson run wild.” This agrees fully with the conclu- 
sion in hand. 
I may add that, since writing the article which appeared in the GAZETTE 
of last June, I have seen the European bullace growing thriftily and fruiting 
abundantly in the grounds of Messrs. Ellwanger & Barry, Rochester, N. Y. 
It is not to be distinguished botanically or horticulturally from the damson 
group of plums, for which the oldest botanical name is Prunus domestica 
damascena Linn. This bullace, however, is what is generally known 1D 
Europe as ?. insititia. 
Dr. Rydberg says that Prunus insititia does not exist in America. That 
depends on what he means. The damsons are very common in our gardens, 
of course, and in some places have run more than half wild. Holding es the 
belief, then, that the damsons, P. domestica damascena and P. insititia eh 
all one thing, I should say that, if P. zmsztitia exists anywhere, It cn 
today in America._F. A. WauGu, University of Vermont, Experiment 
Station, 
*Dendrologie x : 95. 1869. 
* Deutsche Obstgehdlze 142. 1876. 
| FEBRUARY 
