Ivcs^s Seedlinir Plum. 



119 



In the autumn of 1S47, we learned that Mr. Ives had raised 

 a seedhng plum of considerable merit, but it was then so late 

 in the season, that we did not have an opportunity of seeing 

 the fruit. The last fall, Mr. Ives, agreeably to oiir request, 

 sent us some superior specimens for examination, and for the 

 purpose of making a description of the plum; at the same 

 time giving us permission to name the variety. It is almost 

 unnecessary to say, that we found it one of the most delicious 

 fruits we had eaten, equal to, if not surpassing, the Washing- 

 ton, being nearly as large, and, to our taste, possessing a rich- 

 er and more luscious flesh. We made a full and complete 

 description of it, with a drawing of the fruit, of which the 

 annexed engraving {Jig. 13,) is a copy. Wishing to accom- 

 pany the description with a com- 

 plete account of the origin of the 

 plum, we requested him to com- 

 municate the particulars, which 

 are as follows: — 



"Dear Sir, — Your letter, re- 

 questing information relative to 

 my seedling plum, is before me. 



" The original tree came up in 

 my garden, about midway be- 

 tween a Washington and Blue 

 Imperatrice, which are about 

 ten feet distant from each oth- 

 er. From the strong resem- 

 blance of its fruit to the former, Fig. 13. lea's Seedling- Plum. 



and from the circumstance of nearly all the fruit usually 

 dropping from the Washington, when ripening, it is probably 

 a seedling from that variety. 



" The tree came up in the spring of 1840. In the fall of 

 1841, I budded it without success, and it was left to bear. In 

 1845, it produced two or three plums, which, from their ap- 

 pearance, promised well, although the fruit was injured be- 

 fore maturing. It has, however, borne, for the past two years, 

 a handsome, as well as a fine-flavored plum, beautifully spot- 

 ted, and tinted with red; flesh yellow, rich and delicious; 

 size and form of the imperial Gage. 



