FEBRUAKY. 



59 



have large, flat, glossy foliage. A suitable kind for open standards, 

 and well adapted for an east wall, and for cultivation under glass. 



19. Ichworth Imperatrice. 

 Synonym: Knight's No. 6. 



This variety of Imperatrice is perhaps 

 the best of its class, and is a very desir- 

 able late dessert Plum, ripening late in 

 autumn; and it will hang on the tree 

 firm and sound till the end of Novem- 

 ber, and does not shrivel to any great 

 extent. 



Fruit about the middle size, of regu- 

 lar shape, and the suture indistinct. 

 Skin dark purple, spread with a few 

 small brown specks, and tracings of fawn 

 colour at the ends, the whole covered 

 with a thick bloom. Stalk an inch long, 

 moderately stout, and inserted without a 

 cavity. Flesh yellowish green, sweet, 

 juicy, and rich ; adheres considerably to 

 the stone, which is long and much pointed 

 at one end, and larger in proportion to 

 the size of the fruit. 



The trees are stronger in habit than other Imperatrice Plums, 

 with larger leaves of a darker green, and very glossy ; they will pro- 

 duce good crops, if the hints given for the cultivation of these Plums 

 are adopted. 



It may not be generally known that this fruit can be kept for a 

 long time, if carefully gathered, wrapt in a soft paper, and laid in a 

 dry place. I have a fruit by me (January 10) that was gathered on 

 the 1st of last December. 



20. Blue Imperatrice. 



Synonyms : Imperatrice Violette, Imperatrice, Veritable 

 Imperatrice, Violette. 



The fruit of this sort is below the middle size, obovate in form, 

 tapering slightly near the stalk, and has a shallow suture extending 

 to the apex. Skin purplish red, and spread with a thin bloom. Stalk 

 an inch long, slender, and set without depression. Flesh yellowish, 

 firm, juicy, rich, and sweet, with a vinous flavour; adheres consider- 

 ably to the stone, which is small and pointed. The fruit ripens in 

 October, and Avill hang a long time on the tree and become shrivelled ; 

 indeed it is not in perfection till it arrives at that stage of maturity. 

 This sort should occupy a place on a north or north-east wall, and 

 the trees should be allowed to form natural spurs. The Imperatrice 

 Plums are all of peculiar habit, and will not endure close, exact 

 pruning, therefore all small short fruitful shoots should be retained 

 without shortening, and the strong shoots removed during their sum- 

 mer growth : trees thus treated produce good crops. 



With this article my list of Plums closes for the present. Some 



