PLUMS AT THE SOUTH. 



cay, but worth cultivating only for culinary uses, for which the Red Magnum Bonum and 

 Duane's Purple, are much better. 



16. St. Catharine. — Ripe about July 5. This is probably the true name of a plum 

 received here as the French Prune. It proves a pretty good plum tree, hardy and prolific. 

 Flesh firm, rich and good flavored, but somewhat dry. 



17. Diamond. — Ripe July 5th. Tree productive and hardy. Fruit of the largest size, 

 but coarse and flavorless. Would do for the kitchen — but rots worse than any other va- 

 riety except Smith's Orleans; not worth growing. 



18. Manning's Long Blue Pbune. — Ripe July 5. A pretty good bearer. Fruit 

 large, handsome, and of fair quality. "Will do to swell a collection, but would not pro- 

 bably get stolen where the Imperial Gage was abundant. Not very liable to rot. 



19. Smith's Orleans. — July 5th begins to ripen. A great bearer, but extremely lia- 

 ble to rot. Fruit pretty good, and in good seasons it would be a profitable plum. 



20. Gen. Hand. — Ripens July 8. Large and handsome, but the tree is not a good 

 bearer with us. The fruit, too, we consider rather indifierent. Not worth cultivating. 



21. Semiana of Boston. — Bears a fair crop of harsh acid fruit, and is about the poor- 

 est plum we have. Ripe July 8. 



22. German Prune. — Ripe about July 8. The tree is hardy, and bears exceedingly 

 well, but the fruit is dry and indifierent. If it will make good prunes, might be worth 

 cultivating, but not for the table. 



23. Red Magnum Bonum. — Ripe July 10. The tree is a good grower and bearer — 

 fruit very large and handsome; juicy and agreeably sub-acid. A fair plum for the table, 

 and makes the very best of preserves. Not much subject to rot, and upon the whole, in- 

 dispensable. 



24. Blue Plum. — July 15. This is the not very definite name borne by a plum very 

 well known in this vicinity. Fruit medium size, roundish, scarcely oval; suture very ob- 

 scure; skin dark blue, with a fine light blue bloom; stalk three-eighths of an inch long, 

 inserted in a shallow cavity; flesh yellowish green, juicy, sweet, and refreshing — adheres 

 to the stone; shoots smooth; leaves rather small. A very pleasant and agreeable plum, 

 and the tree is a fine bearer. It is generally propagated by suckers. Does not rot. 



25. Jefferson. — July 20th it was ripe this year; last season the 7th of August. We 

 are a little disappointed in the quality of this plum, as it is somewhat inferior to the El- 

 frey, Yellow and Imperial Gages, Blue Plum and Columbia. It lacks juiciness and flavor; 

 but then it has merits which will always render it one of the most desirable of plums. It 

 is of the largest size, and the handsomest of all plums. The tree bears abundantly, fruit 

 hangs on a long time, and it is almost the only plum that is perfectly free from decay. It 

 seems so far to defy the rot. It is also the latest plum that with us has come into bear- 

 ing; and in spite of its defects, is absolutely indispensable, even in a collection of no more 

 than three or four varieties. 



A few other plums have borne here, but are not fully tested. The Green Gage diedjust 

 as it commenced bearing. Huling's Superb, Lawrence's Favorite, Coe's Golden Drop and 

 Sharp's Emperor, were invoiced, but nothing about the trees corresponded thereto, ex- 

 cept the tallies. So of some others. A number of plums not mentioned, have not yet 

 come into bearing here. 



From the above list, which includes all that we can speak of with confidence, the most 

 desirable three varieties that can be selected for a succession, are Prince's Yellow Gage, 

 Imperial Gage, and Jefferson. 



For best six, add Sea, Elfrey, (or Columbia,) and Red Magnum Bonum, for preserves. 



