PLUMS. 55 



ness of this tree and the size of the fruit: A few years since, a 

 small branch with twenty four plums on it, was sent by L. 

 Richards, Esq. of New-Jersey, and exhibited to the New-York 

 Horticultural Society, which probably presented the greatest 

 weight of this fruit ever produced on so small a twig, the 

 length of which I think was but twelve inches. Many plums 

 on the same tree measured six and three quarter inches round, 

 and in one or more instances, weighed four and a quarter 

 ounces. The trees cultivated by Mr. Richards are called 

 " Superior Gage," and were obtained by him from Flushing 

 many years since, under that title. This plum is found also 

 to succeed well in England ; and the following details in re- 

 gard to it I copy from the Pomological Magazine : 



" The wood is pale brown on a wall, but darker on a stan- 

 dard ; when young very slightly pubescent ; leaves oblong, 

 very large and shining, with a luxuriant appearance quite un- 

 known in other plums ; flowers very large, white ; fruit, from 

 a wall, one and three fourths of an inch long by one and five 

 eighths of an inch wide, regularly oval, with a very obscure 

 suture, except just at the stalk, where it is rather deep ; stalk 

 inserted in a shallow cavity, three fourths of an inch long, 

 slightly pubescent. Before being cnt, agreeably perfumed 

 like a Green Gage of the best quality ; skin dull yellow broken 

 a little with green, assuming an orange cast on the sunny side, 

 with a purplish bloom, and more or less mottled with crimson 

 dots ; flesh yellow, firm, very sweet, and luscious, separating 

 freely from the stone; stone oval, acute at each end, wrinkled 

 all over, and nearly even at the edges." 



RULING'S SUPERB. PR. CAT. PR. HORT. 

 Keysets plum. 



This plum is of monstrous size, and has measured six and 

 seven eighths inches in circumference, and weighed nearly or 

 quite four ounces. It is of a roundish form, and a greenish 

 yellow colour ; its shape and appearance bearing an affinity to 

 the Gage family, from the seed of one of the varieties of which 

 it no doubt originated ; the flesh is sweet, rich, delicious, and 



