456 Descriptions of Select Varieties of Plums. 



The tree grows rather slow, with slender upright shoots, 

 and nearly smooth wood. 



Size^ medium, about one and three quarter inches long, 

 and one and a half broad : 

 Form^ roundish obovate, nar- 

 rowing to the stem, with a 

 scarcely perceptible suture, half 

 round, one side slightly lar- 

 ger than the other : Skin, rich 

 purplish red, dotted with gold- 

 en specks on the sunny side, 

 and covered with a thin violet 

 bloom : Stem, rather short, 

 about half an inch long, slen- 

 der, and inserted in a small 

 round cavity : Flesh, pale 

 green, very melting, and part- 

 ing freely from the stone: ^^s--'^- Purple Favorite. 

 Juice, remarkably abundant, rich, sweet and deliciously fla- 

 vored : Stone, very small, roundish ovate, very smooth. Ripe 

 in September. 



16. McLaughlin. 



Of all the acquisitions to our now extended list of Ameri- 

 can sorts of plums, the McLaughlin {fig. 28,) stands at the 

 head. It is in fact the only variety which can claim an 

 equality with the Green Gage ; a rank, we are aware, re- 

 markably high, but one which, we think, will be fully sus- 

 tained by further trial. 



This fine fruit was raised by Mr. James McLaughlin, of 

 Bangor, Maine, and first fruited a few years since. It is yet 

 but very little disseminated, and has only fruited in three or 

 four collections out of its native locality. Scions were sent 

 to us four years ago, and the trees produced a few plums the 

 present season, thus proving it to be a rather early bearer. 

 It fully came up to the estimate we had given the variety 

 after eating specimens from the original tree, when we re- 



