6 BULLETIN 179^ U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGEICULTUEE. 



if only one, whether it is Prunus angustifolia or P. americana. Thomas 

 Jefferson (34, p. 63) identified "Prunus sylvestris fructu majori" as 

 the "Cherokee plumb," and "Prunus sylvestris fructu minori'^ as 

 the "Wild plumb" (Prunus americana). 



The next species to receive attention by a botanist was Prunus 

 pumila, which had been introduced into the gardens of France and 

 was described by Duhamel (19, p. 149) about 1755, as follows: 



Cerasus pTimila, Canadensis oblongo angusto folio, fructu parvo, Cerisier nain a 

 feuilles de Saule. Ragouminer, ou Nega, ou Minel de Canada. 



Prunus pumila was the first to be given a binomial name, which 

 distinction it received in 1767. 



Humphrey Marshall (51, p. 110-114), who was the first author to 

 treat any considerable number of species, described the following: 



Prunus uTnericana, "Large yellow sweet plumb"; P. angustifolia, "CMcasaw 

 plumb"; P. mississippi, "Crimson plumb"; P. viaritima, "Seaside pliunb"; P. 

 declinata, "Dwarf pliimb"; and "Prunv^-Cerasus montana, Mountain Bird-Cherry- 

 Tree." 



One of Marshall's species, P. mississippi, is not identifiable; the 

 descriptions of the others are characteristic, however, and they are 

 stiU recognized as distinct species, although some of them had been 

 earHer described. A few of the species now known were unrecog- 

 nized until recently, and perhaps others yet remain to be distin- 

 guished. 



HORTICULTURAL HISTORY AND DEVELOPMENT. 



Turning now to the recognition and development of native plums 

 by pomologists, it is found that they were at first slow to recog- 

 nize the value and distinctness of the American species, although in 

 later years they have been almost the only ones who have studied 

 the genus critically. 



The earhest works devoted to fruits and fruit growing ia America 

 do not appear to make any reference to the native species, the first 

 accessible reference being by Bernard M'Mahon (50, p. 588), who, in 

 1806, at the end of a list of plum varieties lists "Chicasaw, Prunus 

 cJiicasa,'' but gives no description or note concerning the species. 

 Another author, William Coxe (15, p. 232), writing in 1817, says 

 that plums are — 



Natives of the United States, in many parts of which they are found in great abun- 

 dance, in numerous varieties of Colour, form and size, many of them in good flavour. 



According to the same author, who hsts 18 varieties, those cultivated 

 in the gardens were either brought from Europe or produced from 

 the stones of imported plums. 



A few years later James Thacher (70, p. 223) says: 



It is a fortunate circumstance that there are, according to Mr. Prince, of I.ong-Island, 

 some kinds of plum not subject to the attack of the insect [the curculio] which are the 



