NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 



161 



SMITH'S ORLEANS PLUM. 



Stxontmes. — Cooper s Red; by some, incorrectlv, Red Magnum Bonum, or Violet Perdrlgon. 



This is among the most valuable plums. Though 

 it mny not hardly equal in flavor some of the most 

 luscious kinds, yet it has a mingling of the vinous 

 with the saccharine flavor, that to some palates is 

 equal to the very best. But the peculiar advantages 

 i» this plum arc its good size, large growth, and 

 great production ; and its generally being sure to 

 produce a good crop, while many delicate kinds 

 fail ; and it seems to be well adapted to different 

 climates, soils, and locations, but, like most varieties 

 of plums, it succeeds best on a strong, moist soil. 



All things considered. Smith's Orleans ranks 

 among our most valuable plums, especially for the 

 market. It is a native variety, raised from the seed 

 of the old Orleans about twenty-five years ago, by 

 a Mr. Smith, of Gowanus, Long Island. 



The fruit is large, or very large ; oval, or round- 

 ish-oval ; a distinct suture on one side ; reddish pur- 

 ple, covered with an azure bloom ; stem rather 

 slender, in a deep and narrow cavity ; flesh yellow, 

 rather firm, very juicy, and of a sprightly vinous 

 flavor. Clingstone. Sept. 1 to 20. The young 

 shoots are straight, reddish-purple, and glossy. The 

 fruit, like that of many varieties of plums, is rather 

 inclined to rot when it hangs very thick. 



Nature, in her silent ministrations, often speakcth 

 in tones louder than the thx^nder. 



THE PROSPECT FOR FRUIT. 



Probably there never was a more promising pros- 

 pect for fruit, in New England, than there is at 

 present. In some sections of the south and west, 

 the fruit buds or blossoms have been injured by 

 frost, but we trust that out of New England the 

 prospect is generally good. 



As the crops of fruit were very light last year, and 

 the season was favorable for the production of wood, 

 the trees made a great growth, and they indicate a 

 most bountiful blowth. As the winter has been 

 mild, the blossom buds have generally escaped in- 

 jury from the cold, and the present cold, backward 

 season is very propitious in retarding the blossoming 

 of ti'ces until late in the season, which gives them a 

 much better chance to escape injury from spring 

 frosts. 



Another cheering consideration to the lovers of 

 fruit, is the great increase of fruit trees, and the 

 increased attention in the management of them. If 

 the season should continue favorable, we shall doubt- 

 less have the largest crop of fruit ever raised in this 

 country. Our readers will please consider that this is 

 an even year, and that we always have a good crop of 

 apples in oven years, if the season bo favorable. All 

 who are nice observers will find, every year, a con- 

 firmation of our views on this subject, as wc have 

 expressed them at various times. 



