64 SYSTEMATIC POMOLQGY. 



THE MYEOBALAIir AND MAEIAKTNA PLUMS. 



P. cerasifera, Ehrh. — Differs from the last in a more slender 

 habit, often thorny ; flowers mostly smaller ; leaves smaller, thin, 

 smooth, and finely and closely serrate ; fruit globular and cherry- 

 like, ranging from the size of a large cherry to over an inch in 

 diameter, with a depression about the stem, in various shades 

 of red or yellow. Much used for stocks, and rarely grown for 

 its fruit. It has numerous advantages as a stock, chief of which 

 are: Ease with which it may be propagated; readiness with 

 which most plums "take" on it ; and its hardiness. The Mari- 

 anna, also much used for stocks, is likely a hybrid with this 

 species and P. hortulana. 



THE JAPANESE PLUMS. 



P. trifloraj Roxb. — ^Recently imported from Japan in several 

 varieties; trees strong growing; flowers usually densely fas- 

 cicled; leaves and shoots smooth and hard, the former obovate 

 or oblong-obovate, prominently pointed, and flnely and evenly 

 serrate; fruit usually conspicuously pointed, red, yellow, or 

 purple, with a very firm flesh and commonly a small stone. Of 

 value because of its great productiveness, the beauty of the fruit, 

 good keeping qualities and its immunity from black knot. Not 

 as good in quality as the European plums. 



Many seedlings and hybrids are being introduced yearly and 

 as there were several groups originally the classification is in a 

 somewhat transitory state. Hitherto they have been roughly 

 divided into Freestones and Clingstones; or, again, by Thomas 

 into two groups : the Red, Purple, or Blue and the Green, White 

 or Yellow. Such classifications are in no degree satisfactory 

 and after the work done by Bailey and Waugh with this fruit 



