12 
P. J. Berckmans Company’s Tree and Plant Catalogue 
PLUMS 
Native Varieties 
Price, one year old, very fine, 25 cents each, $2 for 10, $15 per 100. 
All our trees are grafted upon Marianna stocks, which are superior to any other we have ever tested. 
IMPROVED CHICKASAW TYPE 
Varieties of this type are less liable to attacks of 
vigor of growth with great productiveness. Plant trees 
Cumberland. Large; yellow; juicy, sweet, good. 
Maturity August and September. Very prolific. 
Tree thrifty and good grower. 
Persian Purple-Leaved Plum, or Prunus Pissardii. 
(Prunus Myrobolana type.) Fruit medium, dark 
purple; flesh deep red, juicy, subacid. Ripens here 
end of May. A good cooking fruit. Foliage deep 
purplish red, retained throughout our warmest weather 
and until widwinter. Its great value is as an orna¬ 
mental tree. 
curculio than those of European origin, and combine 
15 feet apart each way. 
Wild Goose. Large, somewhat oblong; bright 
vermilion-red ; juicy, sweet ; good quality ; cling. 
Ripens middle of June. A very showy and fine mar¬ 
ket fruit; prolific bearer. Profitable for early ship¬ 
ments. 
N. B. —All these Plums should be picked when they commence col¬ 
oring, and ripened in the house. In three days’ time they will 
acquire a brilliant color. If left on the tree too long the fruit drops, 
and never attains the quality of that which is house-ripened. This 
gradual ripening allows these varieties to carry perfectly to distant 
markets, and they will be found very profitable if properly grown. 
JAPANESE PLUMS 
(Prunus triflora of Botanists; Prunus Japonica of Pomologists) 
PRICE OF TREES 
One year, 4 to 5 feet, 25 cents each, $2 for 10, $15 per 100. Special prices for large lots. 
This race is as distinct from our native varieties as is the Le Conte pear from the Bartlett. The trees 
resemble somewhat our vigorous varieties of the Chickasaw type, but the foliage is larger and quite distinct. 
Some are hardy as far north as where the Wild Goose succeeds, and for our southern states, they open a new 
era in Plum culture. We have fruited 30 varieties of this type, and find many of decided value for market and 
for family use. The confusion existing in the nomenclature as given by the importers of Japanese fruits is 
such that scarcely two invoices, received under similar names, contain the same varieties. 
As with the persimmons, our Japanese horticultural friends have given to their Plums names usually indi¬ 
cating a class or type, and thus helped our own pomologists in increasing the already existing confusion. 
To simplify the nomenclature, and to avoid the increase of an already perplexing synonymy, specific 
names, under which these varieties are now being disseminated by leading American nurserymen, have been 
adopted. 
These Plums are not curculio proof, and fruit must be sprayed, as suggested on page 3. Distance for 
planting, 15 to 20 feet each way. 
HATTANKIO GROUP 
As the varieties of this group appear to be less 
hardy in the northern states, we would recommend 
these for sections below the 34th degree of north 
latitude. 
Georgeoson, or Hattankio No. 1. Usually round, 
1 to inches in diameter; clear gold or yellow; 
flesh firm, yellow, sweet, and of gage flavor; cling¬ 
stone. July 1 to 10, or two weeks later than Kerr. 
Kerr, or Hattankio No. 2. Variable in shape, usu¬ 
ally pointed, iji by 1 A inches, but perfectly round 
specimens are often produced upon the same tree. 
Skin bright yellow; flesh yellow, juicy, subacid, gage 
flavor; quality very good. Clingstone. Maturity 
from June 10 to 20. Very prolific, and an excellent 
early market as well as dessert fruit. 
Kelsey. The most remarkable variety of this sec¬ 
tion. It sustains every point of excellence claimed for 
it by the introducers. Size large to very large, often 
7 to 9 inches in circumference ; heart-shaped ; color 
greenish yellow, overspread with reddish purple and 
blue bloom; flesh very solid, yellow, rich and juicy, 
and with excellent flavor ; pit very small ; adheres 
slightly to the flesh. For canning or evaporating it is 
also most valuable. Maturity middle of July to end 
of August. 
SMOMO GROUP 
This type seems to belong to the hardier or north¬ 
ern group, and has given as good results in northern 
and western states as at the South. 
Abundance, or Yellow-Fleshed Botan. Round, with 
pointed apex, but varies from quite round to sharply 
pointed. Skin yellow ground, heavily washed purple 
carmine, and a darker cheek; flesh yellow, very juicy, 
subacid, with apricot flavor; quite firm; skin tough; 
clingstone; quality best; pit large. Maturity June 15 
to July 5. One of the best early varieties, and valu¬ 
able for northern and middle states. Carries well to 
distant markets. 
After fruiting this variety extensively for years, we 
consider it the most desirable for shipping North and 
West. Fruit should be thinned, otherwise the size is 
reduced and the quality is inferior. 
Burbank. In general characteristics resembles 
Abundance. Color cherry red, mottled yellow; shape 
usually more globular; flesh, flavor and quality are 
identical, but its period of maturity here is from 2 to 3 
weeks later, or middle to last of July. The tree is of 
very vigorous habit, slightly differing in foliage. 
Valuable also for northern states. 
Chabot. Identical with Bailey of several growers. 
2 j 4 inches long by 2 inches broad ; yellow ground, 
