POPULAR PLUMS 323 



of Kelsey; fruit averages about two and a quarter inches in diameter, nearly 

 round, and but slightly sutured on one side ; surface dark red, under a thick 

 bloom; dots rather conspicuous and numerous; flesh dark purplish red, which 

 has caused the name of 'Blood Plum of Satsuma' to be given by some; stone 

 very small and pointed." Chiefly grown. in Southern California. 



Red Magnum Bonum syn. Red Egg. Large, oval, tapering to the stalk ; 

 suture strong, one side swollen ; deep red in the sun ; slight bloom ; stalk one 

 inch, slender, cavity narrow ; flesh greenish, coarse, subacid ; shoots smooth. 



Imperial Gage (New York). Medium size, oval, suture distinct; stalk 

 three-fourths inch, slightly hairy, evenly sunk ; green, slightly tinged with 

 yellow, with marbled green stripes ; bloom copious and white ; flesh greenish, 

 juicy, melting, rich, and delicious, usually free fiom the oval, pointed stone; 

 tree very vigorous and productive ; shoots long upright, slightly downy ; leaves 

 with slight shade of blue. A popular canning variety. 



Damson (English). Small, roundish oval; purple, ' with thick blue bloom; 

 melting, juicy, subacid. 



German Prune (Common Quetsche, Germany). "This name has been 

 applied in this State to numerous plums and prunes which are sold under it. 

 The fruit of the true German prune is long oval, and swollen on one side ; 

 skin purple, with thick blue bloom ; flesh firm, green, sweet, with a peculiar 

 pleasant flavor ; separates readily from the stone." John Rock. Complaint 

 is made in many localities of the tendency of the variety to drop before tipen- 

 ing, almost the whole crop sometimes dropping. 



Kelsey Japan. Trees brought from Japan by the late Mr. Hough, of Vaca- 

 ville, in 1870, and purchased by the late John Kelsey, of Berkeley, who propa- 

 gated and fruited them for several years. First wide distribution was made 

 by W. P. Hammon & Co., in 1874, who named the fruit after Mr. Kelsey. 

 The following description is by H. E. Van Deman, U. S. Pomologist, from 

 California and Florida specimens : "Tree upright in growth, leaves narrow, 

 twigs brownish gray. Fruit from one and a half to two and a half inches 

 diameter, heart-shaped, with a distinct suture on one side from stem to 

 apex ; stem is short, and set in a depression at the larger end ; colors mixed 

 yellow and purple, which vary in depth, but rarely make a brilliant appear- 

 ance, covered with a bloom ; flesh yellow, very firm, and clings to the stone, 

 which is rather small, and nearly always partly surrounded by a cavity ; when 

 fully ripe the quality is very good." Very widely grown; is in less favor 

 than formerly in interior valleys where color is not well developed. Where 

 the fruit is of good color it is profitable for shipping and is highly regarded 

 everywhere for domestic use. 



Quackenbos (New York). Large, oblong oval; deep purple; suture faint; 

 stalk short, slightly sunk ; slightly coarse, sprightly, sweet and subacid ; partly 

 freestone. 



Victoria (English). Large, obovate, suture distinct; color a fine light red- 

 dish purple ; stem half inch, cavity rather deep and narrow ; flesh yellow, pleas- 

 ant ; clingstone ; next to Pond's Seedling in size, beauty and productiveness. 



Hungarian Prune; English Pond's Seedling; Gros Prune d'Agen (English). 

 This variety was brought to San Jose probably about 1856, and in some unac- 

 countable way was first contrasted with the French prune and called the 

 "great prune of Agen ;" afterwards, also in a mysterious way, it took the 

 name "Hungarian prune." It is still marketed by these names both here 

 and at the East. The true name is English Pond's Seedling. Fruit very 

 large, ovate, slightly tapering to stalk; skin thick, reddish violet, with numer- 

 ous brown dots, and covered with handsome bloom; rather coarse, juicy, 

 sweet ; a very showy fruit ; tree a strong grower and prolific bearer ; fruit 

 has a tendency to double ; sells well in local and distant markets on its style 

 and is largely grown. 



Giant. Burbank seedling ; very large, dark crimson upon yellow ground ; 

 flesh yellow, flavor good; freestone. A .shipping plum, disappointing as a 

 drying plum. 



