361 



P. Pennsylvanica, L., P. Virginiana, L., P. seroiina, Ehrh., 

 but their fruits are too small to render these plants of 

 importance for orchard culture, though they may also become 

 enlarged by artificial treatment. 



Primus maritima, Wangenheim. 



The Beach Plum of North America. A shrubby species, of 

 service not only for covering coast-sands, but also for its 

 fruit, which is crimson or purple, globular and measuring 

 from a-half to one inch. It is not necessary to enter here 

 any notes on the generally known species of Prunus, which 

 have engaged already for years the keen attention of many 

 orchard- cultivators also in this Colony. Thus we possess in 

 this country numerous though not ail the best varieties of 

 the Cherry (P. avium, L. and P. Cerasus, ~L.), of the Plum 

 (P. domestica, L.), of the Apricot {P .Armeniaca,\i.) and of the 

 Cherry-Plum (P. myrobalana, L.), the latter Canadian, the 

 others European and Oriental. Information on these and 

 other varieties, to which we have added independently also 

 here, may be sought in " Hogg's Fruit Manual." The 

 Almond (Amygdalus communis, L.) and the Peach (Amyg- 

 dalus Persica, L.) belong also generically to Prunus, as 

 indicated in 1813 by E. Gr. Hayne (" Arznei Grewaechse," 

 iv., 38) and finally settled by J. D. Hooker (Benth. and 

 Hook., gen. pi. i. ; 610), for which therefore now the names 

 P. Amygdalus and P. Persica should be adopted* 



Prunus spinosa, E. 



The Sloe or Blackthorn. Wild in many parts of Europe. 

 With its flowers it is one of the earliest plants to announce 

 the spring. Its tendency to throw out suckers renders the 

 bush less adapted for hedges of gardens than of fields, but 

 these suckers furnish material for walking-sticks. The 

 small fruits can be made into preserves. P. insititia, L., the 

 Bullace, with larger and sometimes yellow fruits, extends to 

 North Africa and Middle Asia. Dr. Hooker and other 

 phytographers consider P. domestica not specifically distinct 

 from P. spinosa. Of medicinal value are P. Lauro- Cerasus, 

 L., the evergreen Cherry-Eaurel from the Orient, and 

 P. Padus, L., the deciduous Birds Cherry, wJ**^ extends 



