60 



PLUMS. 



one side for its whole length by a very conspicuous suture ; 

 the peduncle is slender, nine to ten lines long, and inserted 

 in a small and rather deep cavity ; the skin is a pale violet, 

 covered with bloom, rather tough, and does not separate 

 readily from the flesh, which is of a whitish green colour, firm, 

 sweet, and of a rich taste ; it does not adhere to the stone, 

 which is ten lines long and six broad. Duhamel says this 

 fruit ripens at Paris the end of August, and that it is subject 

 to be wormy when the tree is planted in strong and cold soils. 

 I received this plum from Scotland, under the name of Red 

 Imperial. Most of the trees cultivated in American gardens 

 for this variety, are the Blue Imperatrice, which is a much 

 smaller fruit. 



IMPERIAL VIOLET, with variegated leaves. Pr. cat. 



Imperiale violette a feuilles panachees. Duh. 



This variety is distinguished by its leaves, which are varie- 

 gated with white and green, and thereby rendered quite orna- 

 mental. The fruit is generally Reformed, and half blighted, 

 for which reason Duhamel recommends it to be planted in 

 gardens for ornament, rather than in orchards. 



BLUE IMPERATRICE. Pr. cat. 



Im eratrice I ^^^' ^^^^' ^^™* ^^' ^°^^' 

 ^ ' ^ Lend, Hort. cat. Pom. Mag. 



Red Magnum bonum, or Red Imperial. Coxe, 



Imperatrice violette. Duh. | Prune d'Altesse 7 



Violet Empresa. \ Empress. \ Late Red Imperial. 



Smith's large October ? 



This tree is one of the most flourishing varieties cultivated 

 in this vicinity ; the fruit is of fine appearance, twenty lines in 

 length and fifteen in its greatest diameter. The description 

 given in the Pomological Magazine being very precise, I insert 

 it here. 



" Well known as one of the best of our plums, for keeping 

 late in the season. Its usual period of ripening is in September, 

 when it begins to shrivel, and will then keep, if well managed, 

 till the middle of December, its flavour continuing to improve. 



