BED OR PURPLE PLUMS. 313 



90. ROYALE DE TOURS. O. Duh. Poit. Thomp. 

 Royal Tours. 



This capital, early plum, from the neighbourhood of Tours, in 

 France, is yet very scarce in this country, (two or three spuri- 

 ous sorts having been received by this name,) but deserves to 

 become generally known and cultivated. Its flavour is of the 

 finest, and it commences ripening at the last of July, before 

 most of the fine varieties. 



Branches strong and smooth. Fruit large, roundish, but 

 marked with a large and deep suture extending quite half 

 round, and enlarged on one side. At the apex is a small 

 white depressed point. Skin lively red in the shade, deep vio- 

 let in the sun, with many minute golden dots, and coated with 

 a thick blue bloom. Stalk half to three-fourths of an inch long, 

 stout, set in a narrow cavity. Flesh greenish, rather firm, with 

 a rich, high flavoured, abundant juice. It adheres closely to 

 the stone, which is large, oval, and flattened. 



91. ROYALE HATIVE. Thomp. Nois. 



Early Royal. 

 Mirian. 



A new early plum of French origin, and the highest excel- 

 lence. It is yet very scarce with us, having lately been re- 

 ceived from the garden of the London Horticultural Society. 

 It strongly resembles, both in appearance and flavour, the 

 Purple Gage, or Reine Claude Violette, but ripens a month 

 earlier. 



Branches very downy. Fruit of medium size, roundish, a 

 little wider towards the stalk. Skin light purple, dotted, (and 

 faintly streaked,) with brownish-yellow, and covered with a 

 blue bloom. Stalk half an inch long, stout, inserted with little 

 or no depression. Flesh amber yellow, with an unusually 

 rich, high flavour, and parts from the stone, (adhering slightly, 

 till ripe.) Stone small, flattened, ovate. Begins to ripen about 

 the 20th of July. 



92. RED GAGE. Pom. Man. 



An American plum, of delicious flavour, very hardy, and a 

 prodigious bearer. It is a seedling raised from the Green Gage, 

 by the elder Wm. Prince, of the Flushing Nurseries, in 1790. 

 It grows very vigorously, and is distinguished, when young, by 

 its deep green, crimped foliage. 



Branches dark reddish, smooth. Fruit about as large as the 



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