1868. 



NEW ENGLAND FAEMER. 



149 



THE JEFFEKSON PLUM. 



The curculio modestly introduced herself at 

 first as a mere "plum weevil." Plums were 

 olenty and luscious then, and she wished sim- 

 ply to mark a few for herself. Nobody mis- 

 trusted that she would meddle with any other 

 fruit, and for some time she did not. But as 

 plums failed, she turned her attention to first 

 one and then another of our fruits until she 

 now claims our apples, pears, peaches, and 

 even our small fruits. Having thus cultivated 

 her taste for so great a variety, may we not 

 hope to be able to return to the cultivation of 

 the plum with nearly the same prospect of 

 success as with other fruits ? The fact that 

 there are plums fa market every year, prove 

 that somebody succeeds in growing them. If 

 one succeeds, why may not another? 



The above cut illustrates a plum raised and 

 named by the late Judge Buel of Albany, N. 

 Y. Mr. Downing says "we think it the most 

 desirable and beautiful of all dessert plums. 

 When fully ripe, it is nearly, shall we not say 

 quite — equal in flavor to the Green Gage, 

 that unsurpassable standard of flavor. But 

 when we contrast the small and rather insig- 



nificant appearance of the Green Gage, with 

 the unusual size and beauty of the Jefferson, 

 we must admit that it takes the very first rank. 

 As large as the Washington, it is more richly 

 and deeply colored, being dark yellow, uni- 

 formly and handsomely marked with a fine 

 ruddy cheek. It is about ten dajs or a fort- 

 night later than the Washington, ripening the 

 last of August, when it has the rare quality of 

 hanging long on the tree, gradually improving 

 in flavor. It does not, like many sorts, ap- 

 pear liable to the attacks of wasps, which 

 destroy so many of the light colored plums as 

 soon as they arrive at maturity. 



Branches slightly downy, leaves oval, flat. 

 Fruit large, oval, slightly narrowed on one 

 side, towards the stalk. Skin golden yellow, 

 with a beautiful purplish-red cheek, and cov- 

 ered with a thin white bloom. Stalk an inch 

 long, pretty stout, very slightly inserted. 

 Suture indistinct. Flesh deep orange, (like 

 that of an Apricot,) parts freely, and almost 

 entirely from the stone, which is long and 

 pointed ; very rich, juicy, luscious, and high 

 flavored. Hangs a fortnight on the tree." 



