PLUMS. 695 



Dame Aubert. See White ^Lignum Bonwn. 



Dame Aubert Blanche. See White Magnum Bonum. 



Dame Aubert Violette. See lied Magnum Bonum. 



DAMSON. The Damson seems to be a fruit peculiar to England. 

 We do not meet with it abroad, nor is any mention made of it in any 

 of the pomological works or nurserymen's catalogues on the Continent. 

 In America the varieties of Damson are as much cultivated as with us, 

 and that is not to be wondered at ; but it is singular that the cultiva- 

 tion of Damsons should be confined to our own race. 



There are many varieties of this fruit grown in this country, all 

 originating from the native plum, Pninux -inxititu, from which also 

 the Bullace is derived. The only difference between a Bullace and a 

 Damson is that the former is round and the latter oval. Of these, the 

 following are those most worth cultivating : 



American Damson. See Frost Plum. 



COMMON (Round Damson). Fruit, very small ; roundish oval. Skin, 

 deep dark purple or black, covered with thin bloom. Flesh, greenish 

 yellow, juicy, and austere till highly ripened ; separating from the stone. 



A well-known preserving plum; ripe in the end of September. 

 Young shoots, downy. 



CRITTENDEN'S (Crittenderfs Prolific ; Prolific ; Cluster). The fruit 

 of this is larger than that of any of the others ; roundish oval. Skin, 

 black, and covered with a thin bloom ; ripe in the middle of Sep- 

 tember. 



This is the best of all Damsons. The tree is an immense bearer, 

 and forms handsome pyramids. Young shoots, downy. It was raised 

 by Mr. James Crittenden, of East Farleigh, in Kent, early in the present 

 century. 



DALRYMPLE. This resembles the Prune Damson in its fruit, but the 

 tree is more adapted for northern climates, where the other varieties do 

 not succeed well. It is grown about St. Boswell's, in Roxburghshire. 

 It ripens in October. The tree is of a dwarf habit of growth, and an 

 immense bearer. Young shoots, downy. 



PRUNE (Damascene; Long Damson; Shropshire Damson). The 

 fruit of this variety is obovate and much larger than that of the 

 Common Black Damson. The flesh adheres to the stone. 



This is a better variety than the common for preserving, and makes 

 an excellent jam ; ripe in the middle of September.- The tree is not 

 such a good bearer as the common. Young shoots, downy. 



RIVERS' s EARLY. This was raised by Mr. Rivers, of Sawbridge worth, 

 from seed of St. Etienne Plum. It is very early, ripening in the beginning 

 of August. Young shoots, downy. 



