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THE PLUM. 



The Green Gage is universally admitted to hold the first rank 

 in flavour among all plums, and is everywhere highly esteemed. 

 In France, this variety is generally known as the Reine Claude, 

 having, it is said, been introduced 

 into that country by Queen Claude, 

 wife of Francis I. During the last 

 century, an English family by the 

 name of Gage, obtained a number 

 of fruit trees among the monks of 

 Chartreuse, near Paris. Among them 

 was a tree of this plum, which, hav- 

 ing lost its name, was called by the 

 gardener the Green Gage. It is pro- 

 nounced, by Lindley, the best plum 

 in England, and we must admit that 

 we have no superior to it here. Green Gage. 



The Green Gage is a very short jointed, slow-growing tree, of 

 spreading and rather dwarfish habit. It is an abundant and 

 pretty regular bearer, though the fruit is a little liable to crack 

 upon the tree in wet seasons. 



Branches smooth. Buds with large shoulders. Fruit round, 

 rather small, seldom of medium size. Suture faintly marked, 

 but extending from the stalk to the apex. Skin green, or yel- 

 lowish-green at full maturity, when it is often a little dotted or 

 marbled with red. Stalk half to three-fourths of an inch long, 

 slender, very slightly inserted. Flesh pale green, exceedingly 

 melting and juicy, and usually separates freely from the stone. 

 Flavour, at once, sprightly and very luscious. Ripe about the 

 middle of August. 



There are several seedling varieties of this plum in various 

 parts of this country but none superior or scarcely equal to 

 the old. That known as the Bruyn Gage, which has been dis- 

 seminated from the garden of A. Bruyn, Esq., of Kingston, N. 

 Y., is only the true Reine Claude, brought by Chancellor Li- 

 vingston from France. 



HOWARD'S FAVOURITE. 



Raised by E. Dorr, Albany, N. Y. Tree a vigorous grower, 

 continues to ripen for a long time, anJ the fruit adheres with 



