124 PLUM. 



PLUM. 

 PRUNIER. Pmnus. 



THE Plum tree rises fifteen feet in height, branching into 

 a moderately spreading head ; the leaves are ovate, serrated, 

 and on short petioles ; petals white. The natural colour of 

 the fruit is generally considered to be black ; but the varie- 

 ties in cultivation are of yellow, red, blue, and green colours, 

 and of different forms and flavours. There are several good 

 sorts that grow wild in the hedges of Britain, and also in 

 America, but its original country is supposed to be Asia ; and 

 according to Pliny, it was taken from Syria into Greece, and 

 from thence into Italy. There are many varieties cultivated 

 in France ; and in the London Horticultural Garden there 

 are about three hundred sorts kept under name. The Green 

 Gage is considered the best dessert Plum, and the Egg 

 Plum for sweetmeats ; but the Damson is the best baking 

 Plum. 



The Plum is said to succeed best in a lofty exposure, and 

 may yield well in the mountainous parts of the United States; 

 it yields well near Albany, but the fruit is by no means 

 plentiful in the vicinity of the city of New- York. Like the 

 Nectarine, it is subject to the attacks of the Curculio, and 

 other insects. 



It has been observed that Plum trees growing in frequent- 

 ed lanes or barn-yards, are more generally fruitful than 

 those cultivated in private gardens, or secluded situations ; 

 this circumstance is by some attributed to the jarring of the 

 trees, by cattle and swine rubbing against them ; thus caus- 

 ing the defective fruit to fall on the ground. Geese kept in 

 orchards or fruit gardens, often prove beneficial ; as they, 

 by devouring the defective fruit and other corruptible matter, 

 prevent the possibility of insects getting into the ground, so 

 as to perpetuate their existence, or multiply their species. 



Cobbett attributes the scarcity of Plums in New- York to 



