THE THOMAS PLUM. 



Thomas. Magazine of Horticulture, vol. vii. p. 388. 



The Thomas, though not to be placed in the same rank with the 

 Washington, Imperial Gage, Jefferson, and some other American plums, 

 possesses, however, a combination of qualities which render it a vei-y 

 desirable variety. It is nearly as large as the Washington, and full as 

 beautiful as that plum, ripens its fruit late in the season, and has the 

 excellent property of hanging upon the tree, without rotting, a much 

 longer time than any of the large sized kinds. The trees are also 

 exceedingly vigorous growers, come into bearing rather early, and pro- 

 duce abundant crops. 



In general appearance the Thomas resembles the Sharpe's Emperor, 

 an English plum, having the same salmon-colored skin, beautifully 

 shaded with pale violet, and overspread with a thin lilac bloom. This, 

 together with its vigor, hardness, late ripening and general good quahty, 

 render the Thomas a variety well deserving a place in all but the most 

 Hmited collections of this fruit. 



The Thomas originated in Boston, in the garden of William Thomas. 

 The tree sprang up, near the house, from a stone supposed to have 

 been accidentally dropped from the window. It first came into bearing 

 in 1839 or 1840, when the tree was only six or seven years old. In 

 1841, Mr. Thomas exhibited some beautiful specimens of the fruit 

 before the Massachusetts Horticultural Society, who named it in honor' 

 of the originator. Its size and handsome appearance attracted general 

 admiration, and its quality was so good that the second premium was 

 awarded to Mr. Thomas for his fine specimens. 



From scions kindly furnished us by Mr. Thomas, we budded several 

 trees, and the last two or three years they have borne fine crops. The 

 past season the plums were unusually beautiful, and hung in clusters 

 on the branches until the latter part of September, when they were 

 gathered. But very few rotted upon the tree, though the autumn was 

 more than usually unfavorable to the keeping of the fruit ; and this we 

 deem one of its best characteristics. For a large collection it is an 

 excellent plum. 



Tkee. — ^Vigorous, upright, with diverging branches, making a regu- 

 lar, well-shaped head ; annual shoots, strong. 



Wood. — Dark brown, sprinkled with whitish specks, partially covered 

 with a grayish epidermis, nearly smooth and rather short-jointed ; buds, 

 small, short, erect, with rather prominent shoulders. 



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