214 THE PLUMS OF NEW YORK. 



FRENCH 



Primus iiisilitia 

 1. Mich. Hort. Soc. Rpt. 289. 1889. 2. Ibid. 64, 1S91. 3. Cornell Sta. Bui. 131:184 fig. 40 I- 

 1897. 4. Mich. Sta. Bui. 169:245. 1899. 5. Waugh Plum Cult. 129. 1901. 

 French Damson 4. French Damson i, 2, 3. 



Far better than the Freestone just discussed is the French Damson, 

 which in some respects surpasses all other plums in its group. Thus it is 

 the largest of the Damsons, so large, indeed, as to lead many to believe 

 that it may be a hybrid with some Domestica plum, the size of the trees, 

 blossoms and foliage also leading to such a supposition. This excellent 

 Damson is largely grown for the market in western New York, good quality 

 as well as size and appearance aiding in selling the product. The fruits 

 have but one defect, the pit is large for the amount of flesh. Curiously 

 enough in some seasons the stone clings and in others is perfectly free. 

 It is in tree-characters that the French plum best shows its superiority over 

 other Damsons. The trees are large, the largest of the Damsons in New 

 York, hardy, bear abundantly and annually and carry their foliage so well 

 that fruit and wood usually ripen perfectly even when the trees are not 

 sprayed. The season is a little after that of the more commonly grown 

 Shropshire, which in most years is an advantage. French, while becom- 

 ing popular, is still too little known in New York, where its behavior 

 warrants quite general planting. 



S. D. Willard, a nurseryman of Geneva, New York, probably intro- 

 duced French in this country; at least it was brought to notice mainly 

 through his recommendation. The origin is unknown, but it is probably 

 an introduction from France and may be an old variety renamed. The 

 figure of Prune Petit Damas Violet given by Poiteau is so very similar as 

 to suggest that French may be identical with that sort. 



Tree large, vigorous, spreading, dense-topped, hardy, productive; branches numer- 

 ous, ash-gray, roughish, thorny, with lenticels variable in size; branchlets inclined to 

 develop spurs at the base, rather slender, short, with short intemodes, greenish-red 

 changing to dark brownish-drab, dull, somewhat zigzag, thickly pubescent, with in- 

 conspicuous, small lenticels; leaf-buds intermediate in size and length, pointed, free. 



Leaves folded upward, long-oval, one and one-quarter inches wide, three inches 

 long; upper surface dark green, covered with fine hairs, with a grooved midrib; lower 

 surface pubescent; apex abruptly pointed, base abrupt, margin serrate or nearly cre- 

 nate, with a few, small, dark glands; petiole eleven-sixteenths inch long, rather slender, 

 pubescent, faintly tinged with red, usually having two very small, globose, greenish- 

 brown glands on the stalk or base of the leaf. 



