104 



PLUMS. 



the stone, and is soft, sweetish, and without flavour. It ap- 

 pears by the statement given in the New Duhamel, that this 

 tree does not produce two distinct crops, but that the fruit ri- 

 pens by degrees from August to October, and consequently a 

 portion of it hangs on the tree for a long period after the ear- 

 liest part has attained its maturity. The Jardin Fruitier de- 

 scribes a plum under the title of Bifere, as producing a crop in 

 July, and a second one in September, and the Bon Jardinier 

 copies from it, but the statement wants confirmation. 



RED CHICASAW. PR. CAT. 



Prunus Chicasa. Mich. Pursh. 

 Cherokee. Lond. Hort. Cat. ? 

 Prunier de Virginie. Duh. ? 

 Mandan plum. 



This fruit is nearly round and of good size ; the skin is of 

 a fine cherry colour ; the flesh yellowish, soft and melting 

 when at full maturity, with a pleasant and peculiar flavour. 

 This plum ripens from the 20th to the end of July. The tree 

 is naturally low set and bushy, being inclined to spread its 

 branches but a short distance from the ground. It also throws 

 out short spurs, with leaves on them, each of which is termi- 

 nated by a sharp pointed thorn. Numerous suckers spring 

 up from the root and serve as a means of propagation ; but 

 the trees which are inoculated on other stocks attain the 

 handsomest form and make far the best appearance, and they 

 have also the advantage of not generating suckers to the same 

 extent. There is another variety which produces yellow fruit, 

 but it differs only in respect to colour. 



WHITE PEAR PLUM. PR. CAT. MIL. LOND. HORT. CAT. 



This fruit is suitable for preserves, but is very unpleasant 

 to eat in a natural state ; it ripens very late in the season. 

 The tree is seldom cultivated except for stocks to inoculate the 

 other varieties of plums upon, and also the choice kinds of 

 Peaches and Apricots. There is also a dark coloured variety 

 called the Black Pear plum. 



