i84 



Bulletin 131. 



41. — Empire plum. 



Dnane'<^ Pttrple. — Fruit very large, 

 oblong ; skin reddish purple ; flesh 

 yellowish, juicy and sweet, quality 

 good ; desirable for the garden or 

 home use but ripens with too many 

 others to have market value, being at 

 its best between 8th and 15th of 

 August here. This is one of the old 

 varieties that is rarely heard of to-day. 



'^ Early Rivers. — Of EngHsh origin. 

 Medium size, oval ; purple ; rich and 

 juicy ; perfect free stone ; ripening 

 last of July. Very productive, but 

 the tree has been verj' tender and for 

 this reason has been discarded, and I 

 believe would be of no value to anyone. 



Empire (Fig. 41). — Originated in 

 Cortland county, in this state, and at 

 one time sent out under the name of 

 the Rood plum. Oval ; color dark pur- 

 ple ; large ; quality good ; tree hardy, 

 productive and vigorous. Fruit ripen- 

 ing about September 5th to loth. A 

 variety that may become a popular 

 orchard sort. See Shipper's Pride. 



* Farleigh Damson. — Fruit dark 

 purple, a little smaller than Shrop- 

 shire (which see) , intensely productive 

 and one of the most hardy of all plums 

 in bud and wood. It is valuable as an 

 orchard tree and when better known 

 will be in demand. 



Field. — A seedling of Bradshaw ; 

 ripening ten days earlier, of same large 

 size and color, except that it is darker 

 and not so attractive. The fact, how- 

 ever, that it comes upon the market 

 earlier adds to its value. It originated 

 in Schoharie County, New York. It 

 has an excellent foliage and ripens an 

 extremely hard bone-like wood well 

 calciilated to withstand injury from 

 severe cold. It sets a heavy crop in 

 alternate j-ears. 



*Fi-ench Damson (Fig. 41, 1.). — One 

 of the largest of the Damson family. 



