246 STATE POMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 



JEFFERSO]Sr 



appears in tlie family list, recommended for planting at the rate of sixteen in 

 one hundred ; and in the amateur list at the rate of thirteen in one hundred. 



We can give no better or more reliable notice of this plum than that of the 

 late A. J. Downing, and we accordingly quote his remarks entire from the 

 earliest edition of his "Fruit and Fruit Trees of America," published in 184G : 



" If we were asked which we think the most desirable and beautiful of all 

 the dessert plums, we should undoubtedly give the name of this new variety. 

 When fully ripe, it is nearly — shall we not say quite — equal in flavor to the 

 Green Gage, that unsurpassable standard of flavor. Bat Avhen we contrast the 

 small and rather insignificant appearance of the Green Gage with the unusual 

 size and beauty of the Jefferson, we must admit that it takes the very first 

 rank. As large as the "Washington, it is more richly and deeply colored, being 

 dark yellow, uniformly and handsomely marked, with a fine ruddy cheek. It 

 is about ten days or a fortnight later than the Washington, ripening the last 

 of August, when it has the rare quality of hanging long on the tree, gradually 

 improving in flavor. It does not, like many sorts, appear liable to the attacks 

 of wasps, which destroy so many of the light-colored plums as soon as they ar- 

 rive at maturity. 



" We received the Jefferson Plum a few years ago, from the late Judge Buel, 

 by whom it was raised and named. The original tree is still, we believe, grow- 

 ing in his garden near Albany. It is a good and regular bearer, and the crop 

 is very handsome upon the tree. 



"Branches, slightly downy ; leaves, oval, flat; fruit, large, oval, slightly nar- 

 rowed on one side, toward the stalk ; skin, golden yellow, with a beautiful 

 purplish red cheek, and covered with a thin, white bloom; stalk an inch long, 

 pretty stout, very slightly inserted; suture, indistinct; flesh, deep orange (like 

 that of an apricot), parts freely, and almost entirely from the stone, which is 

 long and pointed ; very rich, juicy, luscious, and high-flavored ; hangs a fort- 

 night on the tree." 



COLUMBIA 



is recommended only for the amateur list, and to be planted at the rate of 

 eight in one hundred. 



This plum originated from seed of the Green Gage, by L. U. Lawrence, of 

 Hudson, N. Y., and seems to have attracted less attention than its very large 

 size and fine appearance would warrant, partially, no doubt, because from the 

 first it gained the unfavorable reputation of being more than usually subject 

 to the rot of the fruit. The tree is vigorous and productive; fruit very large, 

 nearly globular, with one-half rather larger than the other; skin, dark or 

 brownish purple, with frequent light specks, and a dense blue bloom, but par- 

 tially hiding a reddish tint, on the shaded side; flesh orange, moderately juicy, 

 but at maturity rich, sugary and excellent. It is nearly a freestone. Eipens 

 at the end of August. 



MC LAUGHLIN" 



appears only in the amateur list, with the proportion of thirteen in one hun- 

 dred. 



This fine plum originated at Bangor, Maine, with James McLaughlin, hav- 

 ing first fruited about the year 1842 or 1843, and was introduced to the public 

 in the year 1846, by means of an article published in the first volume of the 

 Horticulturist, by B. F. Morse, of that place, it having been exhibited at the 



