THE PLUM. 



359 



Blue, Imperatrice. 



BLUE IMPERATRICE. Thomp. P. Mag. 



Imperatrice. Lind. Mill Yiolette. 



V6ritable Impe'ratrice. Imperatrice Yiolette. 0. Duh. 



The true Blue Imperatrice is an 

 admirable plum, one of the finest of 

 the late plums, hanging for a long 

 time on the tree, and may be kept 

 in the fruit room a considerable 

 period after being gathered. It is 

 rich, sugary and excellent. The 

 branches are long, smooth, and 

 slender, and the smaller twigs start 

 out at nearly right angles with the 

 main branches. 



Fruit of medium size, obovate, 

 tapering most towards the stalk. 

 Stalk nearly an inch long, set in 

 a slight hollow. Skin deep purpled, 

 covered with a thick blue bloom. 

 Flesh greenish-yellow, pretty firm, 

 rather dry, but quite rich and 

 sugary, adhering closely to the 

 stone. Ripens in October, and will 

 hang, in sheltered situations, till the middle of November. 



BLEECKER'S GAGE. Man. 

 German Gage. 



A fruit of the first quality, and 

 the most popular plum in the 

 northern and western portion of 

 this state, being not only excel- 

 lent, but remarkably hardy, and 

 a good and regular bearer. It 

 was raised by the lateMrs.Bleecker, 

 of Albany, about 30 years ago, 

 from a prune pit given her by the 

 Rev. Mr. Dull, of Kingston, N. Y., 

 which he received from Germany. 

 The original tree still stands in 

 her garden. 



It ripens the last of August, 

 from a week to two weeks later 

 than our Yellow Gage. Branches 

 downy. Fruit of medium size, 

 roundish-oval, very regular. Su- 

 ture scarcely perceptible. Stalk 

 quite long, an inch or more, 

 Bleacher's Gage. straight and pretty stout, downy 



