PLUMS. 



81 



and separates pretty readily from the stone. This plum ri- 

 pens the middle of August ; it is not particularly esteemed, 

 and the trees are consequently not extensively cultivated for 

 their fruit. They are much used, however, for stocks on 

 which to inoculate the superior plums, and particular varieties 

 of apricots. 



STONELESS. Pr. cat. Lond. hort. cat. 



Pitless. Pr. cat. 26 ed. 



Prunier sans noyau. Prune sans noyau. N. Duh. 



This is one of the smallest plums, being but ten to eleven 

 lines in length, by eight to nine in diameter; the peduncle is 

 usually four to five lines long, and sometimes even nine lines ; 

 it is inserted nearly even vt'ith the surface of the fruit, there 

 being no apparent cavity ; the skin is a dark violet or purple, 

 covered with bloom ; the flesh is greenish, at first slightly 

 acid, but at perfect maturity it becomes sweetish and devoid of 

 flavour ; the stone is most frequently deficient, and there is in 

 its place a small bony substance, six to seven lines in length 

 and two in breadth, which adheres strongly to the flesh ; the 

 kernel formed in the centre of the flesh is four and a half lines 

 long, and three broad ; in some cases the fruit has a perfect 

 stone, six to seven lines in length, and four and a half in 

 breadth. This variety is but rarely cultivated, as it is valu- 

 able only as a curiosity ; the fruit being small and indifierent. 

 It ripens during the month of August. 



MAUGERON DAMASK. Pr. cat. 

 Datnas de Maugeron. Duh. Lond. Hort. cat. 



This variety is of nearly a globular form, being seventeen 

 lines in length, and sixteen and a half in diameter ; it is flat- 

 tened both at the base and at the extremity ; the peduncle is 

 ten lines long, slender, and inserted in the centre of a very 

 small cavity ; the suture which divides the fruit its whole 

 length, is very slight and barely marked by a line ; the skin is 

 of a light purple colour, covered with bloom, and marked with 



11 



