Notes Upon Plums. 189 



McLaughlin. — A variety originating in Maine and disseminated by a 

 party whose name it bears. Fruit medium to large ; nearly round and 

 flattened at both ends ; skin tender, yellow and apt to be red in the sun ; 

 flesh firm, sweet and when perfectly matured excellent ; ripening last of 

 August. Tree hardy and productive. A desirable sort to be grown in a 

 small wa}^ in a home collection, but for some reason choice fruit of this 

 variet}' has luet with no favor upon markets where I have placed it ; hence, 

 I cannot commend it to the commercial orchardist. Its period of ripening 

 may be one reason of its lack of popularit}-. At one time I had in fruiting a 

 large number of trees, many of which have been top-worked over to varie- 

 ties of greater value. [See history and picture of this variety in American 

 Gardening, Ma}-, 1893, p. 299, by Professor W. M. Munson. — i,. h. b.] 



"^Mallard. — Fruit large ; deep purple ; flesh very rich and juicy ; free- 

 stone ; tree fairly productive. Season about middle of August, but the tree 

 lacks the vigor required to withstand our trying climate ; and while it 

 might be looked upon with favor in a collection of an amateur by reason of 

 its quality, to the commercial orchardist it would have no value. English. 



Middleburg. — A plum of recent introduction from Schoharie County, N. 

 Y. Tree very rugged, setting a full crop in alternate years of large, fine 

 fruit that ripens late in September, often holding well into October. Skin 

 yellow shaded with lilac and purple. Its attractive color and late ripening 

 make it a valuable market sort, particularly on account of its hardiness. Its 

 defect is a foliage that is inclined to drop in unfavorable seasons. 



"^Monarch (Fig. 40, V. ). — Fruit very large; roundish oval; dark pur- 

 plish blue ; perfect free-stone. Tree robust, with a dense foliage, and an 

 abundant bearer. In period of ripening, a little later than Grand Duke. 

 One of the valuable English plums originated and introduced by Mr. 

 Rivers. See Grand Duke. 



Mo7iroe Egg. — Origin, Monroe County, New York. Fruit medium size; 

 oval ; skin greenish yellow ; flesh rather firm and sweet ; skin rather tough, 

 which makes it a favorite with the canners. It produces a heavy crop alter- 

 nate years and ripens about with Imperial Gage, from last of August to 

 September first. We have a few trees that have been fruiting for over 

 twenty years but as it is not well receiv^ed upon the city markets, there is no 

 reason to commend it to the notice of fruit-growers. Years since it was in 

 cultivation very generally by nurserymen, while to-day it can scarcely be 

 found. Often called the Monroe. 



Moore^s Arctic. — A plum received from Prince Edward's Island several 

 years since and while highly regarded there and elsewhere north by reason 

 of its hardiness, seems to have no qualities that should make it valuable to 

 the commercial grower here. A medium size, dark colored variety, ripen- 

 ing last of August and in quality below the average of those that can be 

 denominated good. We have abandoned its culture. 



Niagara. — See Bradshavv. 



Orange Prnne. — A variety originating, I think, in Orange County of this 

 State and highly commended at one time, but of no value whatever as 



