[ THE PLUM 



The two beetles Epicometis squalida Scop, and 

 Leucocelis funesta Poda. are frequent in spring on the 

 blossoms of the peach which they destroy in the same 

 way as those of most other trees and plants flowering at 

 that time, and the pretty rose- chafer Potosia metallica F. 

 v. cuprea Gory, is occasionally found in summer and 

 autumn eating into the ripe fruit. 



THE PLUM. 



Prunus domestica Lin., P. spinosa Lin., P. mirobolana Lois. 

 ROSACEAE AMYGDALEAE. 



Maltese pruna. Italian stistno. French flrum'er. 



The following classification of our orchard plums 

 will convey a clearer idea of the relationship between the 

 various species, varieties and forms, and will be found of 

 practical utility by the cultivator. 



Prunus domestica Lin. The cultivated plum tree, 

 distinguished botanically by its geminate flowers and the 

 pubescent calyx and peduncle. 



A. CEconomica Borkh. to which belong most of the 

 ovoid or elongated plums. 



B Claudiana Poir. = / > . italica Borkh., with globu- 

 lar green or purple fruits. The greengage and other 

 Reine Claude plums are forms of this variety. 



C. Insititia Lin., the Bullace or wild Damson. 



a. Genuina Fiori. This is the typical Bullace 

 (Ma\teSQ=flruna salvaggia or prain, Italian =prugno to 

 da siepe, prund) often found growing wild in our valleys, 

 and is the wild plum more commonly used as stock by 

 our gardeners. Its fruit is small, globular, purplish-blue 

 and usually very astringent and sour. 



b. Damascena Lin. The Damson plum, with glo- 

 bular depressed violet fruits, and a roundish, obtuse seed 

 or stone. 



