PLUMS. 117 



spring frosts. This difficulty increases in proceeding 

 from the North to the South. 



The Plum-Tree {Primus domestica) is considered by 

 Sir J. E. Smith as a native of England. Many of the 

 best cultivated'varieties, however, have been introduced 

 from France. The Hort. Soe. Catalogue enumerates 

 274 sorts, though probably all of these are not well 

 ascertained. We shall first notice a few of the best 

 dessert plums, and then give a list of select kitchen 

 sorts. 



The G-reen-Gage is the Reine Claude of the French. 

 Being a great favorite at Paris (as it is everywhere 

 else) during the ferment of the first Revolution, wbien 

 all allusions to royalty were proscribed, it retained its 

 popularity under the title of Prune Citoyenne. It was 

 introduced into England by the G-age family, and the 

 foreign name having been lost, it obtained its present 

 appellation. It is a fruit of first-rate excellence, the 

 flavor being exquisite. The tree deserves a place 

 against an east or west wall, where the fruit acquires a 

 larger size, without materially falling off in richness of 

 flavor. Treated as a wall tree, it seldom bears well till 

 it be old; and it is very impatient of -exact training, as 

 indeed most plums are. In warm situations it may be 

 properly grown on an espalier-rail, or as a dwarf stand- 

 ard. 



The Braf d' Or is a small yellow plum of high flavor, 

 ripening in the beginning of September. On a light 

 soil the tree is a tolerable bearer ; but on a heavy soil 

 it seldom succeeds. The fruit precedes the green-gage 

 in ripening, and resembles it in quality. 



Goes Golden Drop is a fine large oval plum ; excel- 

 11 



