ISTATIVE AMEEICAlSr SPECIES OF PEXJNtJS. 15 



tion with the natural distribution of Prunus munsoniana, to which the 

 Newman belongs. Mr. ElHott says: 



In my earlier days I frequently met witli wild plums in Ohio and have often done 

 so in Missouri, that were abnost if not quite identical, and in the years 1836 to 1845, or 

 thereabouts, they were abundant in the markets of all the western towns and cities. 



The variety Newman is again described and figured by D. L. Adair 

 (1, p. 142), from whom Mr. Elliott received his specimens, but the 

 origin of the variety is not given. Mr. Adair was evidently somewhat 

 of an enthusiast in the development of native fruits and apparently 

 enumerated all of the varieties of native plums known to him. These 

 were the Newman, Langsdon, Miner, Muldraughs Hill, and Wild Goose. 

 The Langsdon, as described and figured, appears to be Prunus hor- 

 tulana. The Muldraughs Hill is said to have been found wild on 

 Muldraughs Hill, Hardm. County, Ky., and is evidently P. americana, 

 probably being the first-named variety belonging to that species. It 

 has apparently not been grown to any extent, at least not under that 

 name. The Wild Goose, the first representative of the second species 

 to become prominent horticulturally, is perhaps the most widely dis- 

 seminated and best known of any variety of the native species. The 

 history of its origin is given by Miller (52; 53), as follows: 



This invaluable fruit was first made known to the public about twenty years ago by 

 Capt. Means, of Middle Tennessee, who, having killed a wild goose, discovered a plum 

 seed in it, which he planted, out of curiosity. It grew rapidly, and fruited the third 

 year; and being convinced of its superior qualities, he made it known to various 

 nurserjTnen, who, from this same, propagated all the genuine Wild Goose plums that 

 are now so deservedly popular wherever known. TMs plum is undoubtedly a seedling 

 of the Chickasaw, but so much superior to it in size, quaUty, firmness, adaptability to 

 shipping long distances, and its immense productiveness, as well as its early bearing, 

 rapid growth and long duration, as to fully entitle it to a distinct appellation. 



In the later account this writer says that the gentleman who first 

 made it kiio\\'n lived in the vicinity of Nashville, and that until within 

 a few years it had been controlled by a few propagators, but that it 

 was then becoming kno\vTi generally throughout the Mississippi 

 Valley and in some of the Western States. An orchard of this 

 variety in southwestern Tennessee was then 15 years old. 



The history of the origin of the Wild Gooso plum is also given by 

 J. S. Downor (17, p. 116) and by L. 11. Bailey (5, p. 176), who gives 

 substantially the same account as that given by Mr. Downer. There 

 was eviflently, as in the case of the Minor, a disposition to give the 

 credit of the discovery of this variety to more than one individual, 

 for in tho American Horticultural Annual of 1870 (62), among the 

 varieties of the previous year, Ifio following statement is made: 



Spor.irnenfl of the Wild Goo.se jdurn wore Kent uh by Mr. Samuel A. Barljcr, of Madi- 

 wri, Tf.-iin., who claim.H that tlio original troo "wa.4 raiwod by M. E. McCance, my 

 father-in-law, from seed taken from a, wild gooHc'H craw." 



