-^ O^^^^ic)!} |)paLo^p. ^ 



The Cooch Plum. 



Fig. 1451. — Ottawa Plum. 



1029. Sir, — An enterprising amateur 

 gardening friend of mine here has brought me 

 some specimens of a plum which he has grown, 

 and I think so much of them that I have taken 

 the liberty of forwarding, by to-day's post, a 

 couple for you to pronounce upon. The size, 

 color, shape and flavor impress me very highly. 

 What do you think of them ? They are early, 

 too, and that is very important for us, so far 

 east and north. 



The grower tells me he has raised the tree 

 from seed planted nine years ago, and this is 

 the first year of bearing ; it bore 40 plums, all 

 of a very uniform size. 



Does this plum resemble any other too 

 closely to prevent its getting a distinctive 



name ? If it be entitled to a name, it ought 

 to be called the " Cooch "—the name of the 

 grower. 



Although 1 have been one of the oldest 

 members of the Fruit Growers' Asso'n, yet, 

 as a plum grower, I have had so little success 

 that I cannot pretend to speak with much 

 authority on plums. Kindly let me have a 

 line from you, giving me your opinion of the 

 specimens I am sending you. 



David Mathkson, Ottawa,, Sept. 9th. 



The plum measures about 2 inches 

 long by x% in width; somewhat one- 

 sided, with a very distinct suture on one 

 side, the form is somewhat broadened 

 toward the apex. The stem is short, 

 about half an inch long, inserted in a 

 shallow cavity. Color of skin very dark 

 red, with greyish bloom. 



Flesh greenish yellow, moderately 

 juicy, soft in texture, moderately sweet. 



Quality very good for cooking and 

 market purposes. Season late. Sam- 

 ple photograph came to hand Sept. loth. 



Fig. 1452.— Section of Ottawa Plum 

 Cut in .suture. 



Seedling: White Grape. 



1030. Sir,— I shall take the liberty (on 

 Monday, 12th inst.) of sending you by mail a 

 bunch of grapes from a seedling vine, now 3 

 years old. Will you kindly give me your 

 opinion of its value, quality, etc. The grapes 

 on the vine, from which the sample to be sent 

 was taken, began to ripen on 20th ult., or 

 about with the Early Ohio. 1 have also a 

 number of seedling peaches, which are quite 

 early — gathered two weeks ago from one tree. 



O. FlTZALWVN WiLKINS, 



Bridgebtirgh, Ont. 



Seedling Grape. — The bunch of 

 grapes came duly to hand on the 12th 

 September, but many of the berries 

 were crushed. The bunch is of a good 

 size and form, the berries white, round, 

 of medium size ; the flavor agreeable, 

 somewhat foxy, but much sweeter and 

 pleasanter than Concord ; the skin is 

 thin and tender, and the pulp is tender 



406 



