VARIETIES OF PLUMS 367 



lack vigor ; and, Avhile hardy, the fruit-buds are often caught by 

 cold; they are slow in growth: and have a precarious existence 

 because of insects and diseases. The fruits need a long season 

 to reach perfect maturity, often failing to ripen where other 

 plums mature well; they are used for all purposes to which 

 plums are put, — for dessert, cooking, canning, preserving, and 

 prune-making. Jervaise Coe, St. Edmunds, Suffolk, England, 

 raised Golden Drop from a seed about 1809. 



Tree medium to large, vigorous, spreading or roundish, open-topped, 

 hardy, productive. Fruit very late; 2 by 1^2 inches in size, long -oval, 

 tapering at the base to a short neck, compressed, halves equal; cavity 

 shallow, narrow, abrupt; suture shallow and wide; apex depressed; color 

 golden-yellow with thin bloom; dots numerous, small, russet, conspicuous; 

 stem % inch long; skin tough, adherent; flesh light golden-yellow, juicy, 

 sweet, mild; good to very good; stone free, oval or ovate. 



564. Washington (Fig. 195). — The fruits of Washington are 

 large ; handsome in form and color ; abundant in juice, yet firm 

 and meaty enough to keep and ship well ; and 

 very good in flavor. The trees are large, 

 hardy, vigorous, and healthy ; remarkable for 

 their broad, glossy, abundant leaves ; and bear 

 bountiful crops annually at a favorable pe- 

 riod of maturity. Defects are : the fruits are 

 subject to brown-rot ; the quality varies great- 

 ly in different locations and years; the trees 

 are slow in coming in bearing; and the crops 

 are small for some years after fruiting begins. 

 About 1790, the pits of twenty-five quarts ^^^- 195.^ Washing- 

 of Green Gage plums were planted by the 

 Princes at Flushing, Long Island. From one of these came 

 Washington. 



Tree large, vigorous, round and open-topped, hardy, very productive. 

 Fruit midseason; 1% by 1% inches in size, round-oval, compressed, halves 

 equal; cavity shallow, narrow, flaring; suture shallow; apex roundish; 

 color greenish-yellow, with green stripes and splashes, occasionally with a 

 faint blush on the sunny side, with thin bloom; dots numerous, white, in- 

 conspicuous; stem % inch long, with thick pubescence, adhering strongly 

 to the fruit; skin thin, sour, separating readily; flesh greenish-yellow, 

 juicy, firm, tender, sweet, mild, pleasant flavor; good to very good; stone 

 free, oval, turgid, roughened, somewhat blunt at the base and apex. 



