2 BULLETIN 172, TJ. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



botanical affinities of a given variety is therefore a matter of much 

 importance to both the nurseryman and orchardist, and for this 

 reason the attempt has been made to identify each variety with its 

 species. This has been done either by a study of material or by 

 means of such descriptions as exist in horticultural literature in the 

 case of varieties no longer known to be in cultivation or of which it 

 has been impracticable for any other reason to secure material. 



These pages also constitute a record of achievement in American 

 pomology with a fruit the importance of which was long overlooked 

 and the value of which, even at the present time, is recognized by 

 comparatively few. Information is brought together concerning the 

 parentage when known, and a record is made of the work of those who 

 have concerned themselves with the improvement of this fruit. 

 With few fruits is there an equal opportunity to record step by step 

 the advance which has been made since the original of the first-named 

 variety was brought from its wild thicket and planted in a garden. 



GEOGRAPHICAL ORIGIN OF VARIETIES. 



The varieties of native plums have mainly originated in the Missis- 

 sippi Valley, the State of Iowa alone having furnished 175, while 74 

 have come from Minnesota and 44 from South Dakota. Among the 

 Southern States a much larger number, 97, have originated in Texas 

 than in all of the others combined. In most of the States, too, the 

 varieties originated have been from the species native to the region. 

 In Iowa, for instance, 138 belong to Prunus americana, leaving a 

 comparatively small number belonging to species not native to the 

 State. In Texas, also, three-fourths of the total number are either 

 of the species growing within the State or hybrids one of the parents 

 of which is native to the State. It is in these western and southern 

 regions that the fruit of several of the species appears to reach its 

 greatest perfection in the wild condition, and doubtless the greatest 

 development under cultivation may be expected to take place here 

 also. 



The geographical origin of the different varieties is indicated more 

 clearly in Table I, which is designed to show the number of varieties- 

 belonging to a given species that have originated in each State. The 

 varieties originating from subspecies are included with the species, 

 but the hybrids are given separately. 



