PLUMS. 283 



gour of the tree itself. Damsons raised from suckers, and 

 planted in hedge-rows, or grown among nut-bushes, or 

 crowded among and under other trees, can never be ex- 

 pected to produce such fine, thick-fleshed, high-flavoured 

 fruit, as those which are grown upon sound healthy stand- 

 ards, in proper situations, unencumbered with coarse strong- 

 growing trees. 



9. VIOLETTE HATIVE. Nursery Catalogues. 



Violet. Langley, p. 92. Hort. Soc. Cat. No. 262. 



Early Violet. 76., No. 263. 



Branches numerous, slender, downy. Fruit small, oval, 

 rather pointed at the apex, and compressed towards the stalk ; 

 about one inch and three-eighths long, and an inch in diame- 

 ter. Suture shallow, in some extending from the stalk to the 

 apex. Stalk half an inch long, slender, inserted in a small 

 shallow cavity. Skin purple ; when fully ripe of a deep blue 

 or violet colour, and covered with a thin blue bloom. Flesh 

 green, and adheres to the stone. Juice sugary, with an 

 agreeable acid. 



Ripe the beginning of August. 



An old Plum, cultivated by John Tradescant before 1629. 

 It is a most excellent bearer, and ought to be planted in the 

 garden of every poor cottager throughout the kingdom. It 

 might then not unaptly be called the Cottager's Plum. 



SECT. II. Green-fruited. 



10. GREEN GAGE. Langley, p. 94. t. 24. fig. 4. Hooker, 

 Pom. Lond. t. 38. 



Dauphine. Duhamel, 25. t. 11. 



Grosse Reine Claude. 76. 



Abricot Vert. 76. 



Verte Bonne. 76. 



Branches smooth. Fruit middle-sized, round, having a 

 narrow suture extending from the stalk to the apex. Stalk 

 half an inch long, a little bent, and inserted in a small fun- 

 nel-shaped cavity. Skin yellowish green, but when fully 

 exposed to the sun of a purplish colour, marbled with rus- 

 setty muddy red. Flesh yellowish green, very melting, and 

 separates partly from the stone, leaving part of the pulp be- 

 hind. Juice abundant, saccharine, of the richest and most 

 exquisite flavour. 



Ripe on the open standard the middle of August. 



