PLUMS. 283 



by the late John Kelsey, of Berkeley, CaL, whose name 

 has been given to the fruit as a just tribute to the memory 

 of one of California's pioneer leaders in horticulture. The 

 following points of excellence are claimed for it : 



1. Its wonderful productiveness is unsurpassed by any 

 other plum, either native or foreign. 



2. It comes into bearing at the age of two to three 

 years, blossoms appearing frequently on yearling trees. 



3. The fruit is of very large size, being from seven to 

 nine inches in circumference, and specimens weighing six 

 and a half ounces each ; it has a remarkably small pit. 



4. It is very attractive in appearance, being of a rich 

 yellow, nearly overspread with bright red, with a lovely 

 bloom. It is heart-shaped ; it ripens from first to last of 

 September. 



5. It is of excellent quality, melting, rich, and juicy ; 

 its large size renders the paring of the fruit as practicable 

 as the peach, which is quite a novelty, and it excels all 

 other plums for canning. 



As a dried fruit it is destined to take the lead, equal to, 

 if not surpassing, the best dried prunes. Experiments re- 

 sulted in yielding nineteen and a half pounds of dried 

 fruit to the one hundred pounds of fresh fruit. In text- 

 ure it is firm and meaty, and it possesses superior qualities 

 for shipping to long distances ; it remains solid longer than 

 any other variety. 



