1855. 



NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 



481 



THE WASHINGTON PLUM. 



"We give above a most faithful representation of 

 this excellent plum. The fruit represented grew in 

 the grounds of E. W. Bull, Esq., of Concord, the 

 originator of the celebrated "Concord Graj)e." It 

 is part of a Ijranch containing five plums within the 

 space of six inches, and weighing 11^ ounces, or 

 nearly 2^ ounces each. The drawing was designed 

 by Mr. JoiiN N. Hyde, a young artist of great 

 promise, and the engraving executed by Messrs. 

 Smith & Pearson, both parties having their place 

 of business at 46 Court Street, Boston. The con- 

 noisseur will find this illustration one of great truth 

 and beauty, and it is our intention that he shall fre- 

 quently find our columns enriched with similar 

 beautiful s])ccimens of the skill of our artists. 



The description of tiie plum we give from Down- 

 ing : 



The Washington undoubtedly stands higher in 

 general estimation in this country, than any other 

 plum. Altliough not eijual to the (ircen Gage, and 

 two or three others, in higli ilavor, yet its great 

 size, its beauty, and the vigor and hardiness of the 

 tree, are qualities wiiich have brought this nolde 

 fruit into notice everywhere. The ])arent tree grew 

 originally on Delancey's farm, on the east side of 



the Bowery, New York, but being grafted vrith an- 

 other sort, escaped notice, until a sucker from it, 

 planted by Mr. Bolmar, a merchant in CTiatham 

 Street, came hito bearing about the year ISIS, and 

 attacted universal attention by the remarkable beau- 

 ty and size of the fruit. In 1821, this sort was fu'st 

 sent to the Horticultural .Society of London, by the 

 late Dr. Hosack, and it now ranks as first in nearly 

 all the I'AU'ojjean collections. 



'J'lie AVasliington has remarkably large, broad, 

 crumpled and glossy foliage, is a strong grower, and 

 forms a handsome round head. Like several other 

 varieties of plum, the fruit of this, es])ecially in san- 

 dy soils, docs not attain its full perfection until the 

 tree has borne for several years. We have meas- 

 ured them very often vsix inches in circumference, 

 and once from Mr. Bolmar's original tree, seven 

 and a quarter inches. 



Wood light brown downy. Fruit of the largest 

 size, roundish-oval, with an obscure suture, except 

 near the stalk. Skin dull yellow, with laint mar- 

 blings of green, but when well ri))eiu'(l, deep yel- 

 low with a ])ale crimson blush or dots. Stalk scarce- 

 ly three-fourths of an inch long, a little dinvny, set 

 in a shallow, wide hollow. Flesh yellow, firm, very 

 sweet and luscious, separating freely from tlu' stone. 

 Stone pointed at each end. liijjens from about the 

 middle to the last of Aujmst. 



