6 
NOTES ON PLUM CULTURE. 
doubtful value. The Mariana so largely used for stocks, 
and the De Caradeuc are closely related, but of uncertain 
origin. A few varieties are probably hybrids, although the 
manner in which most of them originated is more a matter 
of speculation than of definite knowledge. There are still 
other varieties that cannot even be classed as hybrids and 
whose ancestry is likely to remain undetermined. Profes¬ 
sor Bailey of Cornell, who has given the whole plum group 
careful study, arranges the native varieties into groups as 
follows:* 
The American Group— Primus Americana. 
The Wild Goose Group— Primus hortulana. 
The Miner Group— Prunus hortulana var. Mineri. 
The Chicasaw Group— Prunus angustifolia. 
The Mariana Group—Of uncertain origin. De Cara¬ 
deuc assigned to Prunus cerasijera, and Mariana thought to 
be a hybrid. 
The Beach Plum— Prunus maritima. 
The Wild Plum of the Pacific Coast— Prunus subcordata. 
Hybrids, unclassified varieties—Of uncertain origin. 
Our foreign introductions belong to two groups: 
The European Plums, such as Lombard, Green Gage, 
and the numerous prunes— Prunus domestica . 
The Japanese Plums— Prunus triflora . 
While the European plums can be grown in some sec¬ 
tions, the tender nature of the fruit buds makes them uncer¬ 
tain on the eastern slope, except in favored localities, and 
dependence must be placed mainly upon the Americana var¬ 
ieties. In the fruit districts of the western slope the Wild 
Goose is eminently successful and stands at the head of the 
list of profitable varieties, but it is probably too tender for 
the eastern slope, certainly for the northern and central 
districts. 
In general throughout the West the native plums are 
proving profitable. Even in districts where the domestica 
varieties are successfully grown, the native red plums sell 
in competition with them, and at remunerative prices. 
While it may be admitted that most native varieties are in¬ 
ferior in size and flavor to those of the domestica class it, 
should be remembered that the extended introduction of 
the natives is comparatively recent, that the improvement 
in them has been rapid, and that they offer wonderful possi¬ 
bilities in the direction of future development. All the 
* See bull etin No. 88, Cornell Experiment Station. 
