WOETHY GENERAL CULTIVATION. 411 



obtained a number of fruit trees from the monks of Charteuse, near 

 Paris. Among them was a tree of this plum, which, having lost its 

 name, was called by the gardener the Green Gage." There are very 

 few trees in bearing of the true variety at the West, the Imperial 

 Gage having been often sold as Green Gage. The true variety is 

 readily known by its short-jointed, slow-growing, spreading, and 

 dwarfish habit. It also requires a rich, warm soil to insure fruit in 

 perfection in locations north of 42 deg. Branches, smooth ; buds, 

 with large shoulders ; fruit, medium, round ; suture, slight ; skin, 

 yellowish green, marbled and dotted on the sunny side with red ; 

 flesh separates freely from the stone, pale green, exceedingly melt- 

 ing, rich, sprightly, high flavor ; stalk, slender, slightly inserted. 

 Season, midddle to last August. 



IMPERIAL GAGE. 



Prince's Imperial Gage, I White Gage, 

 Flushing Gage, Jenkinson's Imperial, 



Superior Green Gage. 



This is an American variety, originating at the old nursery of Wm. 

 Prince, Flushing, N. Y. In heavy, strong soils it is sometimes 

 deficient in flavor, proba,bly from a deficiency of some particular 

 element in the soil, as it produces abundantly, grows vigorously, and 

 trees apparently healthy. In light, loamy, or even dry, poor soils, 

 it is a hardy, productive variety, and the flavor often almost equal- 

 ling a true Green Gage. As a market variety, it is far superior to 

 Green Gage, and hardly surpassed by any other plum. Branches, 

 slightly downy, dark-colored, upright, vigorous ; fruit, above medi- 

 um, oval ; suture, distinct ; skin, at first pale green, with a white 

 bloom, becoming yellowish green, marbled with dark green stripes ; 

 flesh, greenish, juicy, rich, sprightly flavor ; stone, oval, with flesh 

 occasionally adhering. In good seasons and soils it separates freely 

 from the stone ; stalk, long, hairy, stout, inserted in an even cavity. 

 Season, first September ; at the South, July first. 



. JEFFERSON. 



An American variety, originated by Judge Buel, at Albany, 

 N. Y., probably from a seed of Coe's Golden Drop, which in growth, 

 wood, etc., it closely resembles. It has been pretty extensively 

 tested, both in this country and in Europe, and fully sustains the 

 high character given it by the late A. J. Downing. The Bingham or 

 Clingstone plum has occasionally been disseminated for this variety. 

 In rich, high flavor, it does not equal the Green Gage, but its large 

 size, great beauty, productiveness, freedom from decay, and habit of 

 hanging long on the tree after ripe, render it valuable for all collec- 

 tions. Branches, nearly smooth; fruit, large, oval, slightly nar- 



