4 THE PLUMS OF NEW YORK. 



This inherent variability is one of the strong assets of the genus as a 

 cultivated group of plants, for it allows not only a great number of kinds 

 of fruits and of species but a great number of varieties. Besides, it 

 gives to the genus great adaptiveness to cultural environment, in accord- 

 ance with climate, location, soil and the handling of the trees. The cul- 

 tivator is able to modify, too, the characters of members of the genus 

 to a high degree in the production of new forms, but few, if any, groups 

 of plants having produced as many cultivated varieties as Prunus. 



The genus Prunus is preeminent in horticulture, furnishing all of the 

 so-called stone-fruits, fruits which for variety, delicious flavor and beauty 

 of appearance, probably surpass those of any other genus, and which, 

 fresh or dried, are most valuable human foods. The seeds of one of the 

 fruits belonging to Prunus, the almond, are commercially important, both 

 for direct consumption and for the oil which is pressed from them; in 

 India a similar oil is obtained from the seeds of peaches and apricots, while 

 in Europe an oil from the seeds of the Mahaleb cherry is used in making 

 perfumes. Various cordials are made from the fruits of the several species, 

 as kirschwasser and maraschino from cherries, zwetschenwasser and raki 

 from plums, and peach brandy from the peach; while fruits and seeds 

 of the several species are soaked in spirits for food, drink and medicinal 

 purposes. The bitter astringent bark and leaves are more or less used 

 in medicine as is also the gum secreted from the trunks of nearh' all the 

 species and which, known as cerisin, is used in various trades. The wood 

 of all of the arborescent species is more or less valuable for lumber, for 

 cabinet-making and other domestic purposes. 



Prunus is prolific also in ornamental plants, having in common to 

 recommend them, rapidity of growth, ease of culture, comparative free- 

 dom from pests, and great adaptability to soils and climates. The plants 

 of this genus are valued as ornamentals both for their flowers and for 

 their foliage. Many cultivated forms of several of the species have single 

 or double flowers, or variegated, colored or otherwise abnormal leaves, 

 while the genus is enlivened by the evergreen foliage of the cherry laurels. 

 Nearly all of the plants of Prunus are spring-flowering but most of them 

 are attractive later on in the foliage and many of them are very orna- 

 mental in fruit. 



PLUMS. 



Of all the stone-fruits plums furnish the greatest diversity of kinds. 

 Varieties to the number of two thousand, from fifteen species, are now 



