1962 
states that this species was introduced into Europe by Linden in 1839, 
and it has been cultivated at the Museum in Paris since that time. He 
adds that Hooker attributes its introduction to Schiede and Deppe. Its 
native home is held to be in the states of Vera Cruz and Oaxaca, Mexico, 
and possibly also in Guatemala. Apparently it has received very little 
attention at the hands of European horticulturists. 
Wilson Popenoe 
Prunus Mume 
As an ornamental plant for mild-wintered regions of the eastern 
United States, Prunus mume has received attention from this office since 
1903, when the first introduction was made. In 1922, a splendid collec- 
tion of the best Japanese varieties was secured from Prof. T. Onda, of 
Okitsu. These were described in Plant Immigrants for April of that year, 
under S.P.I. Nos. 54709 to 54725, inclusive, and budded trees of several 
varieties, propagated from the original introductions, have been dis- 
tributed during the past season. Because of its being one of the first 
trees to blossom in the spring, and because of the fragrance of its 
flowers as well as their beauty of form and color, Prunus mume deserves 
to be cultivated widely as an ornamental. 
The Plant Introduction Garden at Chico possesses a number of trees, 
which have been flowering and fruiting for several years. At Washington 
the tree rarely bears fruit, though it flowers profusely. The Japanese 
prepare from mumes an extremely salty pickle, which is highly appreci- 
ated. It is popularly said, in fact, that the Russo-Japanese war was 
won by this product. It was an important item in the rations issued to 
Japanese soldiers, and, as evidenced by this popular saying, one of the 
most esteemed. 
National differences in taste preclude the likelihood that pickled 
mumes will become as popular in the United States as they are in Japan. 
The mume may have other uses in this country, however, as evidenced by 
the following extract from a letter received from J. E. Morrow, superin- 
tendent of the Chico Plant Introduction Garden, dated April 4, 1924: 
"The pectin content of Prunus mume is remarkable, indeed. It seems 
to me that with a half dozen fruits one could jelly a bucket of water. 
Last summer we called the attention of the office to this remarkable 
quality of the fruit. In addition to this, we would say that it is ex- 
tremely frost resistant. These trees are the first at the garden to 
flower each spring, and they Bet a heavy crop of fruit regardless of 
frost or minimum temperatures . In looking over the test nursery this 
morning, I found the trees of Prunus mume heavily laden with fruit, while 
apricot trees near by were without a single fruit, and other introduct- 
