NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 



451 





THE IMPERIAL GAGE PLUM. 



It is sometimes said that plums are unwhole- 

 some fruit. This is not the case, however, if eaten 

 at a proper period of ripeness, and in suitable quan- 

 tities and at the right time. Some of them are 

 very delicious and strongly tempt the palate, and 

 they are taken in excess; they are taken, also, not as 

 most fruit should be, as a part of the meal, but as 

 a luxurious indulgence after the actual wants of 

 the system have been fully supplied. In such 

 cases, any fruit is always more or less hurtful. 



The Imperial Gage, the subject of our engraving, 

 has long enjoyed the reputation of one of the most 

 excellent and productive of plums. It originated 

 at Prince's Nursery, Flushing, N. Y. A single 

 tree near Boston has produced fruit to the value 

 of near fifty dollars annually, for some years. — 

 This plum is peculiarly fitted for dry, light soils, 

 where many sorts drop their fruit. 



The tree grows freely and rises rapidly, and has 

 long dark shoots and leaves, slightly downy. Fruit 

 rather above medium size, oval, with a distinct 

 suture. Stalk nearly an inch long, slightly hairy, 

 and pretty stout, inserted in an even hollow. 

 Skin pale-green, until fully ripe, when it is tinged 

 with yellow, showing a peculiar marbling of dull 

 green stripes, and covered with copious white 



bloom. Flesh greenish, very juicy, melting and 

 rich, with a very sprightly, agreeable flavor. The 

 stone is oval and pointed at both ends. It is a 

 great and regular bearer, and the fruit is therefore 

 improved, thinning when half grown. Ripen? 

 about the first of September. 



For the New England Farmer. 

 STRIPED SWEETING APPLE. 



Simon Brown, Esq. : — Dear Sir, — I have sent 

 you some apples; I wish to know if they are a kind 

 you are acquainted with, and what they are called. 

 I never saw them anywhere except on the mansion 

 farm of my late father, Dr. B. Kittredge, of Tewks- 

 bury. I knew them 50 years ago. The tree is a 

 good bearer every year. This year the tree in my 

 garden is loaded. We call them the Striped 

 Sweeting. 



Respectfully yours, Rufus Kittredge. 



Portsmouth, Aug. 21, 1852. 



Remarks. — The apples you sent are handsome 

 and of fine flavor, but a little over ripe. We have 

 nothing in this vicinity like them. They resemble 

 the Jersey Sweeting, described by Downing. 



York Co. Agricultural Fair. — Henry F. 

 French, Esq., of Exeter, N. II., will deliver an 

 address before the York Co. Agricultural Society, 

 at Saco, Maine, on the 6th of October. 



