FRUITS. DESCRIPTION AND CULTURE. 425 



much improved, both in size and flavor, by cultivation. 

 Some trees produce better fruit than others. Leaves 

 lanceolate, and more like the peach than the plum ; 

 branches thorny; fruit small; skin either light red or 

 yellow; flesh yellow, very juicy and sweet, but somewhat 

 astringent about the stone, to which it adheres. Ripe 

 here about the 20th of May ; lasts a month. Doubtless 

 many excellent varieties will be originated from this hardy 

 native fruit. Some are now found nearly free from astring- 

 ency. This plum appears to be free from curculio, and 

 never fails to ripen a crop. 



Sea, or Early Purple, Ripens 8th of June, and is 

 here the earliest of plums ; fruit small, roundish ; skin 

 brownish-purple, with a slight bloom; flesh greenish- 

 yellow, sweet, juicy, and parts from the stone ; highly 

 perfumed. This nice little plum was, I believe, first 

 introduced here by some grafts received from Germany. 

 It does not rot. 



Prince's Yellow Gage, Fruit medium size, broadest 

 toward the stalk ; suture slight ; skin golden yellow, 

 slightly clouded, and with copious white bloom ; stalk 

 an inch long, inserted in a small cavity; flesh deep 

 yellow, sweet, juicy, and fine flavored ; freestone ; tree 

 very productive ; fruit lasts a long time ; one of the best 

 for a long time in this climate. Ripe June 10th. 



iiingham, Fruit large, oval ; skin deep yellow, spotted 

 with red toward the sun ; stalk in a small cavity ; flesh 

 yellow, juicy, rich, and delicious ; clingstone ; tree a fine 

 grower and good bearer. Ripens July 1st. 



Columbia. Very large, roundish ; skin brownish-pur- 

 ple, with fawn-colored specks; bloom thick and blue; 

 stalk an inch long, stout, in a narrow cavity ; flesh orange, 

 not very juicy, sugary, rich, and excellent; freestone. 

 Ripe June 20th. A magnificent variety, of excellent 

 quality. Tree hardy and productive. 



