New York Agricultural Experiment Station. 607 



high quality and handsome appearance of the fruit, combined with 

 the good character of the tree, ought to make Abbesse d'Oignies 

 a very good commercial variety. 



This cherry probably originated in western Europe about the 

 middle of the 19th century. It is now a greater or less favorite 

 wherever cherries are grown in the Old World, Professor Budd having 

 found it, as we have said, in 1883, in Russia. 



Tree large, vigorous, upright-spreading, hardy, productive; branches smooth, 

 thick, somewhat drooping. Fruit matures late, ripening period long; large, roundish- 

 oblate, slightly compressed; cavity of medium depth, wide, regular; suture a line; 

 apex roundish, slightly depressed; color dark, attractive red; dots numerous, small, 

 light russet, conspicuous; stem slender, one and five-eighths inches long, adhering to 

 the fruit; skin moderately thick, rather tough, not adherent; flesh yellowish-white, 

 with colorless juice, slightly stringy, tender, moderately soft, sprightly subacid; 

 of very good quality; stone free, about three-eighths inch in diameter, roundish, 

 turgid, slightly pointed, surface nearly smooth. 



PLUM. 



French. — Damson plums year by year increase in popularity in 

 New York. Plantations are small but they are becoming more and 

 more common and those who have them find them profitable. The 

 trees, as all fruit-growers know, are not equalled by any other of the 

 several groups of plums in vigor, hardiness and productiveness. 

 Shropshire is the most commonly grown Damson, but we believe 

 French to be a better variety and think that if planted more generally 

 the Damson industry would be even more profitable and make a 

 still greater growth. French is the largest of the Damsons — 

 probably a hybrid between Shropshire and some Domestica plum. 

 The trees are larger and more productive than those of other Damsons. 

 The fruit is excellent in quality, handsome in appearance, of large 

 size and may be eaten out of hand with relish when fully ripe or 

 after a light frost — a point worth remembering where only Damsons 

 can be grown. In some seasons the stone clings and in others, 

 curiously enough, it is free. The trees are hardy, very fruitful 

 and carry their foliage and fruit well. The season is a week or two 

 later than that of the Shropshire, which is an advantage. 



The origin of French is unknown, but it is probably an intro- 

 duction from France and an old variety renamed. To the late 

 S. D. Willard of Geneva, New York, to whom plum-growers are 



