RED OR PURPLE PLUMS. 307 



a plum of even larger dimensions. The young trees are readily 

 known by their straight, large, blunt purplish shoots, nearly 

 smooth, and not gray and downy, like those of the Goliath. 



Fruit of the largest size, regularly formed, roundish. Stalk 

 about half an inch long, rather stout, and set in a wide shallow 

 depression. Skin purple, dusted with a blue bloom. Flesh dull 

 greenish-yellow, becoming tinged with red at maturity, a little 

 coarse grained, with a rich, brisk flavour, and adhering partially 

 to the stone. A good and regular bearer. Ripens about the 

 15th of August. 



Mr. Rivers has lately seht to this country trees of the PEACH 

 PLUM, which he says is the Prune Pche of Brittany, superiour 

 to, and quite distinct from the Nectarine. 



78. PRECOCE DE TOURS. O. Duh. Thomp. Lind. 



Early Tours. 



Noire Hative. 

 Violet de Tours. 

 Perdrigon Violet. ) incorrectly 

 Blue Perdrigoa. $ of some. 



The Early Tours plum is yet very little known in the United 

 States, but deserves a more general trial, as it is esteemed 

 abroad as an excellent very early plum, ripening the last of 

 July, among the first of the season. 



Branches downy. Fruit rather more than an inch in diame- 

 ter, oval, with a shallow suture. Skin deep purple, covered 



with a thick azure bloom. 

 Stalk half an inch long, set in 

 a narrow cavity. Flesh at first 

 greenish, but becoming dull 

 yellow at maturity ; a little 

 fibrous, but juicy, sweet, melt- 

 ing, and slightly perfumed ; it 

 adheres considerably to the 

 stone. 



79. PURPLE FAVOURITE. 



This delicious fruit received 

 its name from us some years 

 ago. The tree from which the 

 stock now in this country was 

 derived, stood for many years 

 (until it died of old age,) in the 

 centre of the principal garden 

 Fig. 126. Purple Favourite. here) and was planted by the 



