The groups run into one another; and there are some varieties which can be referred to either of two types with about equal degrees of dissatisfaction.

This fact, that a classification will not absolutely settle the status of every variety, disturbs a good many persons. Because certain varieties cannot be clearly and positively brought into one or another group these persons lose confidence in the entire scheme. This distrust arises from a mistaken view of the proper aims and methods of botanical and horticultural classification. The value of a classification is not measured so much by the sharpness of the demarkation lines which it draws between the groups as by the prominence of the types which it sets forth. It is not so much fencing off varieties by impregnable barriers as it is setting up landmarks to guide the novice amongst the bewildering array of seemingly unrelated forms.

It is thought worth while, however, in connection with the foregoing discussion of types of European plums, to point out the relationship of leading varieties to these types. This amounts to a classification; but the reader must remember that this classification is essayed in the spirit emphasized above.

A very large number of varieties of plums of the class here in review have been named and cultivated in America. Only a small proportion of these are now known to the commercial fruit and nursery trade; very many of them are no longer to be found in the country; and only a fractional part of them have come within the personal study of the writer. Those varieties of which we have made satisfactory notes are herewith arranged with the types to which they seem to belong.

THE MYROBALAN GROUP

Differs from the ordinary Domesticas in having a more slender habit, often thorny; flowers mostly smaller; leaves smaller, thin, smooth and finely and closely serrate; fruit globular and cherry-like, ranging from the size of a large cherry to over an inch in diameter, with a depression about the stem; in various shades of red or yellow.

The american varieties which are to be referred to this group are as follows:

Brill

De Caradenc

Frost proof

Hattie (not typical)

Marianna (perhaps hybridized with some american plum)

Tarleton

Pissard. Sometimes made a separate botanical variety, P. cerasifera pissardi (Carr.) Bailey.

THE DAMSONS

Characterized by smaller, shorter-jointed growth as compared with other Domesticas, with leaves smaller, oval, flat, rather sharply dentate ; fruit small, oval, sour, clingstone, usually dark blue, but sometimes whitish or yellowish; mostly late ripening. Those which I have examined and which belong here are:

Shropshire

Cluster

Frogmore

White Damson

Bullace. This plum, which is commonly held to represent the species Prunus insititia Linn., unquestionably belongs here.1

THE REINE CLAUDE GROUP

Foliage usually large, leaves broad and rather flat with very coarse serrations; fruit nearly spherical, in a few varieties slightly elongated, green or tardily turning to a dull creamy yellow, occasionally with a faint pink blush, flesh rather firm or even hard, green, clinging to the stone (partially free in a few varieties). The varieties which I have examined are as follows:2

Large growing trees, with large foliage; fruit very large, oval, with more or less of a neck; yellow or greenish yellow, or purplish flesh yellow. Here belong :

Magnum Bonum (Yellow Egg)

Coe Golden Drop. (Silver Prune)
Grand Duke

THE PRUNES

Trees and foliage various; fruit mostly medium to large, always oval or ellipsoid, usually with one side of the oval straighter than the other;

I See F. A. Waugh, "What is Prunus insititia ?" Bot. Gaz. 27, p. 478 (1899).

2 In general these varieties and those in the following groups are arranged in the order of their conformity to the selected type.

compressed, color blue or purple, flesh mostly greenish yellow, rather firm; stone usually free in a large cavity.1

To this group I would refer the following varieties.

There are several

others which doubtless belong here, but I have not examined them.

Italian Prune

German Prune

Prune d'Agen (Petite Prune)

Datte d'Hongrie

Reine Claude Rouge d'Ete
Wangenheim?

Churchill?

THE PERDRIGONS

Fruit, medium to large, spherical or oblate, sometimes distinctly depressed at the apex, usually with a deep suture, blue or purple, flesh greenish yellow, rather firm. This group is not so popular in America as in Europe, nor so much grown here now as formerly. The varieties which I have seen are as follows:

Royal Tours

Late Black Orleans

Goliath

Violette de Galopin
Lafayette?

Prince Engelbert??

THE DIAMOND GROUP

Fruit mostly large, oval, very slightly compressed sidewise, dark blue with heavy blue bloom, flesh generally yellow, very firm, usually clinging to the stone. Here apparently belong :

Fruit large, slightly obovate, purplish with distinct pinkish dots, thin skin and juicy flesh. Here belong the following varieties:

I In this country, particularly in the Pacific states, a prune is any plum that can be dried and sold as a prune. From the standpoint of classification such a definition can not be accepted. Such an application of the term has never been made in France or Germany where these plums are largely grown. The confusion which arises from the loose use of the term prune is painfully evident, especially to Pacific coast horticulturists; and it seems much better when we speak of prunes to use that word to designate a pomological group rather than a commercial accident.

THE LOMBARD GROUP

Not easily separated from the preceding and perhaps better classified with it. In general the fruit is smaller, oval, very slightly compressed The varieties to be classified here

sidewise, pinkish purple, or purplish.

HYBRID PLUMS - SECOND REPORT

I. INTRODUCTORY DISCUSSION

The interest in hybrid plums dates from 1893 when Luther Burbank offered in his "New Creations" the varieties Golden and Juicy, with one or two others not since distributed. Two years later, in 1895, the report of the Pomologist of the United States department of agriculture contained descriptions of the varieties Garnet, Lannix, Monolith, Scribner and Sirocco, grown by J. S. Breece, of North Carolina, and supposed to be of hybrid origin. In the four years since then hybrid varieties have been coming to light in increasing numbers.

A year ago this station, after considerable effort to put itself in command of all the verifiable facts, published the first general discussion of hybrid plums.1 Since that time new data have been rapidly accumulated, so that it seems proper now to put on record some observations in continuation of the earlier studies. We have notes on a considerable number of new varieties, all of which, with possibly one exception (Occident) have originated from the mixture of two or more accepted species. Sundry notes are added on varieties described in our former paper. Such notes, however, consist only of observations made during the year.

Some space was occupied in our former publication with the discussion of the general aspects of hybridization and hybridism as they appear among the plums. On only one point will further generalization now be offered. This is in the matter of hybrid parentage.

Taking from the new varieties the eighteen of which the parentage is known or may be fairly surmised their origin may be analyzed in the following table.2

I F. A. Waugh, Hybrid Plums. Vt. Sta. Bul. 67 (1898).

2 In this discussion the names Prunus hortulana and P. rivularis are used, though it

is understood that the groups represented by these names do not properly constitute species

in the ordinary acceptation of the term. The name P hortulana stands for the Wildgoose, aud Miner grops and the name P. rivularis for the Wayland group.

These figures will appear more interesting if examined in connection with the varieties from which they are taken. Attention is therefore directed to the following facts :

1. The Americana-Japanese hybrid is unique. One other reported hybrid of this parentage (Bursoto) given in our former list was there said to be pure Americana. Another reported hybrid of this class raised by Theo. Williams, Nebraska, has not been examined by us.

2. The three Japanese-Simon hybrids are all of Mr. Burbank's introduction. Several others of the same parentage have already been introduced by the same hybridizer.

3. The six Hortulana-Wayland hybrids come also from one man, A. L. Bruce of Texas.

4. Of the four Chicasaw-Japanese hybrids two are contributed by J. S. Breece of North Carolina, one by A. L. Bruce of Texas, and one by W. A. Yates of Texas.

These facts, as far as they go, tend to illustrate and confirm the important observation made a year ago that "hybrid plums seem to go in flocks."1

If the parentage of these eighteen varieties be further distributed to the several species which have participated in them the showing is as follows:

In this list three things are worthy of remark: first, the prominence of P. triflora; second, the single mention of P. americana; third, the conspicuous absence of P. domestica.

I Vt. Sta. Bul. 67, p. 23 (1898).