232 



THE FLORIST. 



DESCRIPTIVE LIST OF FRUITS. 

 PLUMS. 



{Continued from p. 213.) 

 3. Victoria. 



Synonyms : La Victoria ; Queen Victoria. 

 The Victoria is the hardiest and most prolific of all Plums, and 

 altogether an excellent kind ; when grown as a standard, or trained 

 to a wall, a failure is of rare occurrence, which alone is sufficient to 

 recommend it. 



It is said to be an old variety 

 brought out under a new name ; if 

 so, it must have been but little 

 known previous to" its being sold 

 under its present title. I have never 

 met with a Plum myself precisely 

 the same ; the nearest I have seen 

 is Sharp's Emperor, which certain- 

 ly bears a very close resemblance 

 to it. 



Fruit large, oval, of a lively red 

 on the exposed side, salmon colour 

 in the shade ; at times quite pale, 

 with numerous imbedded specks, 

 and covered with a thin bloom. 

 Stalk half an inch long, inserted in 

 a small even cavity, with a faintly 

 marked suture extending to the 

 apex. Flesh pale yellow, tender, 

 juicy, very sweet, and moderately 

 separates freely from the stone, 

 at the edges, and has a remark- 

 ably thin shell, ripening from the beginning to the middle of Sep- 

 tember, and lasting in season about three weeks. It is a fine table 

 fruit, and excellent for pastry or preserving. Any wall aspect is 

 suitable for this Plum, or it may be advantageously grown as a 

 standard. 



4. F other ingham. 



Synonyms : Grove House Purple ; Sheen. 



The fruit is of the middle size, obovate, slightly compressed near 

 the stalk ; the suture is strongly marked, and extends from the stalk 

 to the crown. Skin dark purple, fading off to red where shaded, and 

 covered with a thick violet bloom. Stalk an inch long, quite slender, 

 and set without depression. Flesh pale greenish yellow, juicy, 

 sugary, and rich, combined with an agreeable acid flavour. A dessert 

 Plum of great excellence, ripening the end of August ; the fruit, if 

 allowed to hang on the tree, becomes shrivelled, in which state it is 

 delicious. Stone long, acute, and separates from the flesh. The trees 



rich, with a pleasant flavour; 

 which is long: and flat, rousrh 



