DESCRIPTIONS OF POPULAR PLUMS 279 



Wickson. A crossbred by Luther Burbank; form suggests the Kelsey, but 

 more symmetrical ; in ripening the color develops from a deep cherry red down 

 to a rich claret as full ripeness is attained. The color is solid and uniform. The 

 flesh is of amber tint, very juicy and translucent; the pit is f small and shapely, 

 the flavor is striking and agreeable, but likely to be deficient near the coast. The 

 most popular shipping plum in the State, judged by number of growers reporting 

 favorably, but not largest in eastern shipments in 1913. 



Yellozv Egg; syns. White Egg, White Magnum Bonum (English). Very 

 large, oval, narrow at ends, necked at base, suture disttinct; stalk one inch, not 

 sunk, surrounded by fleshy ring at insertion ; light yellow,- bloom thin, white, 

 flesh firm, rather acid until fully ripe, and then sweet, adheres to the pointed 

 stone. 



Jefferson (New York). Large, oval, base slightly narrowed, suture slight; 

 greenish yellow, becoming golden, with reddish cheek ; bloom thin, white ; stalk 

 one inch, but little sunk or not at all; flesh rich yellow, very rich, juicy, high 

 flavored and luscious, adheres partly to its long, pointed stone; shoots smooth; 

 tree a slow grower, but productive. 



Columbia (New York). Very large, nearly globular, one side slightly larger; 

 brownish purple, reddish brown where much shaded, with many fawn-colored 

 dots; bloom blue, copious- stalk one inch, rather stout; cavity small; flesh 

 orange, very rich and sweet, free from the stone, which is very small and com- 

 pressed. Shoots downy, stout, blunt, spreading; leaves nearly round. 



Satsuma ; syn. Blood Plum of Satsuma. Introduced and first fruited in this 

 country by Luther Burbank, of Santa Rosa. Described by Prof. H. E. Van 

 Deman, U. S. Pomologist, as follows: "Leaves more lanceolate than those of 

 Kelsey ; fruit averages about two. and a quarter inches in diameter, nearly round, 

 and but slightly sutured on one side; surface dark red, under a thick bloom; 

 dots rather conspicuous and numerous ; flesh dark purplish red, which has caused 

 the name of 'Blood Plum of Satsuma' to be given by some ; stone very small and 

 pointed." Chiefly grown in Southern California for local use and trade. 



Red Magnum Bonum; syn. Red Egg. Large, oval, tapering to the stalk; 

 suture strong, one side swollen ; deep red in the sun ; slight bloom ; stalk one inch, 

 slender, cavity narrow; flesh greenish, coarse, subacid ; shoots smooth. 



Diamond. Large, deep purple; handsome but not high quality; ripens after 

 Japanese and sells well at the east as a cooking plum. 



Imperial Gage (New York). Medium size, oval, suture distinct; stalk three- 

 fourths inch, slightly hairy, evenly sunk; green, slightly tinged with yellow, with 

 marbled green stripes; bloom copious and white; flesh greenish, juicy, melting, 

 rich, and delicious, usually free from the oval, pointed stone ; tree very vigorous 

 and productive ; shoots long upright, slightly downy ; leaves with slight shade 

 of blue. A popular canning variety. 



Damson (English). Small, roundish, oval; purple, with thick blue bloom; 

 melting, juicy, subacid. 



German Prune (Common Quetsche, Germany). "This name has been applied 

 in this State to numerous plums and prunes which are sold under it. The fruit 

 of the true German prune is long oval, and swollen on one side ; skin purple, with 

 thick blue bloom; flesh firm, green, sweet, with a peculiar pleasant flavor; sepa- 

 rates readily from the stone." John Rock. Complaint is made in many localities 

 of the tendency of the variety to drop before ripening, almost the whole crop 

 sometimes dropping. 



Kelsey, Japan. Trees brought from Japan by the late Mr. Hough, of Vaca- 

 ville, in 1870, and purchased by the late John Kelsey, of Berkeley, who propa- 

 gated and fruited them for several years. First wide distribution was made by 

 W. P. Hammon & Co., in 1874, who named the fruit after Mr. Kelsey. The 

 following description is by H. E. Van Deman, U. S. Pomologist, from California 

 and Florida specimens : "Tree upright in growth, leaves narrow, twigs brownish 

 gray. Fruit from one and a half to two and a half inches diameter, heart-shaped, 

 with a distinct suture on one side from stem to apex ; stem is short, and set in 

 a depression at the larger end; colors mixed yellow and purple, which vary in 

 depth, but rarely make a brilliant appearance, covered with a bloom ; flesh yellow, 



