598 



A STUDY OF THE NATIVE PLUM. 



Drop, Moreman, Poole, Reed, Roulette, Sucker State, 

 Texas Bell or Belle, Wayland, Whitaker, Wild Goose, 

 "World Beater. 



The Wild Goose is either very variable, or there are 

 two varieties passing under that name. I have not been 

 able to observe any constant differences between the two 

 types in foliage or fruit, and am disposed to regard 

 these peculiarities as variations of one variety due to 

 climate or some other local cause, for I find the same 

 differences in other varieties grown here and in the south, 

 as in Newman, Robinson and Mariana. The range of adap- 

 tability of the Wild Goose is great. It is hardy in cen- 

 tral New York and southern Michigan, and it succeeds well 

 in Georgia and Texas. The tree resembles a peach tree. 



and by a more or less smooth and Americana-like stone. 

 Fig. 4 (page 599) is an excellent illustration of the under 

 surface of a leaf of this group, and fig. 5 (page 599) shows 

 the general habit. It includes a few anomalous varieties, 

 which appear to be intermediate between Prtinus hor- 

 tulana and P. Americana : Clinton, Forest Rose, Idol, 

 Indiana Red, Iris, Langsdon, Leptune, Miner, Parsons, 

 Prairie Flower, Rachel. 



The Miner group appears to be a strong and hardy 

 race, which is particularly adapted to the northern limits 

 of the cultivation of the hortulana family. The varie- 

 ties are much alike. The Miner is the most popular 

 member of the group, and it succeeds even in northern 

 Illinois. In New York the varieties ripen from late Sep- 

 tember even to late October. 



D. The Chickasaw Group {Prunus angustifolia, 



-Wild Goose FluM. (Americana Group.; Sprays half 



This group of plums, as a whole, appears to be best 

 suited to the middle latitudes, being grown with satisfac- 

 tion from Illinois and Indiana and the southern part of 

 Michigan and New York to Maryland, Virginia and 

 Tennessee, and in the southwest to Texas. The varieties 

 which are most highly prized are Golden Beauty, Indian 

 Chief, Missouri Apricot, Moreman, Wayland and Wild 

 Goose. 



C. The MrNER Group (Prunus hortulana, var. 

 Mincri). This group differs from the species by their 

 dull and comparatively thick leaves, which are conspicu- 

 ously veiny below and irregularly, coarsely toothed and 

 more or less obovate in outline, by a late, very firm fruit, 



Marshall; Prunus Chtckasa. Michx.). This group of 

 plums differs from the Wild Goose group by a more slen- 

 der, spreading and zigzag growth, usually a smaller size 

 of tree, by red twigs, by smaller, lanceolate or oblong- 

 lanceolate, very closely serrate, shining leaves, which 

 are conduplicate or trough-like in habit, by early small 

 flowers which, upon old wood, are densely clustered on 

 the spurs, and by an early red (rarely yellow) more 

 or less spotted translucent fruit, the flesh of which is 

 soft, juicy, more or less stringy, and very tightly adher- 

 ent to the small, broad, roughish stone. It is difficult 

 to separate some of the cultivated forms of this species 

 from small-leaved and weak-growing varieties of Prunus 



