280 PLUMS. 



The habit of the tree, manner of growth, and shape of the 

 leaf, is that of a Summer Bonchretien ; the fruit not so 

 large, the shape more regular in form, and of a spicy agree- 

 able taste. It is a very fine Summer Pear. 



This Pear was introduced by Governor Stuyvesant, and 

 planted on his farm on this island while Governor of the 

 then Dutch Colony of New-Netherlands, (as New- York was 

 called) before that memorable period mentioned by Knicker- 

 bocker in his History of New York, when the stout-hearted 

 and strong-headed Petriis was obliged to deliver up the 

 keys of office to the combined ^^ guessing, j^umjjkin-eat- 

 ing gentry, and their English allies," and stump off to his 

 farm in the Bowery with the only satisfaction left him — to 

 cut down every English cherry-tree on his premises, so as to 

 obliterate, if possible, the very name of English from his 

 peaceful retreat. The old Tree, planted by the Governor 

 himself, is yet alive, and, to all appearance, quite sound in 

 body ; it produced fruit last August, (1832), of which I ga- 

 thered several. The tree is more than 200 years old : 

 where it came from is not known ; certainly not from Eng- 

 land ; if it had, it would no doubt have shared the same fate 

 as the English Cherries, when JVew Amsterdam was trans- 

 ferred to new masters, and chanored to the name of New- 

 York. ^ 



CHAPTER XV. 

 PLUMS. 



Sect. I. — Black ar Blue-fruited. 



1. Blue Gage. Hort. Soc. CaL No. 22. 

 Azure Hative. Poit. et Turj). t. 78. 



Branches long, slender, and downy. Fruit small, quite 

 round, about three inches and a half in circumference. Stalk 

 three quarters of an inch long. Skin dark blue, covered 

 Avith a pale blue bloom. Flesh yellowish green, and sepa- 

 rates from the stone. Juice smart, with but little richness 

 of flavour. 



Ripe the beginning of August. 



2. Blue Perdrigon. Langleij, p. 92. J[Iiller, No. 7^ 

 Perdigon^ Parkinson, No. 19. 



