361 
P. Pennsylvanica, L., P. Virginiana, L., P. serotina, 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. 
Prunus 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 all the best varieties of 
the Cherry (P. avimi, L. and P. Oerasm, L.J, of the Plum 
(P. domestica, L.), of the Apricot {P.Armeniaca,lj.) and of the 
Cherry-Plum (P. myrohalana, 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 Emit Manual.” The 
Almond {Amygdalus communis, L.) and the Peach (Amyg- 
dalus Fersica, L.) belong also generically to Prunus, as 
indicated in 1813 by E. Gr. Hayne (“ Arznei Gewaechse,” 
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-Gerasus, 
L., the evergreen Cherry-Laurel from the Orient, and 
P. Fadiis, L., the deciduous Birds Cherry, wh'"'' extends 
