490 Descriptio7is of Select Varieties of Plums. 



never had the opportunity to see the fruit till last year, when 

 we had some fine specimens from Mr. Vandine, of Cambridge. 

 A spurious variety has been considerably cultivated and sold 

 for itj around Boston, which is a very inferior fruit; and to 



this circumstance we at- 

 tribute the cause of its 

 cultivation having been 

 so much neglected here. 

 The true variety is 

 one of the very largest 

 plums yet produced, ful- 

 ly equal, if not superior, 

 to the Washington, in 

 this respect. Mr. Prince 

 states, that "it seems 

 doubtful which will at- 

 tain to the largest di- 

 mensions, this or the 

 Washington plum;" it 

 is also a most excellent 

 fruit. It has a firmer 

 flesh than the Washing- 

 ton, and it adheres firm- 

 ly to the stone. 

 The tree is quite peculiar in its habit; it has an exceed- 

 ingly vigorous growth, with strong, blunt shoots, and the 

 leaves are large, broad, and thick ; the buds are also large, 

 like the Green Gage, with remarkably prominent shoulders. 

 Fruit, very large, about two and a quarter inches long and 

 two in diameter, roundish oblong, narrowing to each end, 

 with the apex slightly flattened ; suture rather shallow, ex- 

 tending half round : Skin, dull yellowish-green, very little 

 dotted with dull red near the base, on the sunny side, and cov- 

 ered with a pale bloom : Stem, medium length, about three 

 quarters of an inch long, very stout, swollen at the end ad- 

 joining the branch, and deeply inserted in around, contracted 

 cavity : Flesh, yellowish, fine, melting, and adhering firmly 

 to the stone: Juice, abundant, rich, brisk, vinous, and ex- 

 cellent. Ripe in September. 



Pig. 44. Hulinff's Superb Plum.] 



