THE PLUM. 347 



Ripens very early or about midsummer, its only value. 

 This is a distinct species, (Prunus cerasifera,) and is 

 distinguished by its smooth, slender shoots, small bushy 

 head, and narrow leaves. There are several varieties. 

 The Golden Cherry Plum, (Market Plum, of Hoffy,) is 

 heart-shaped, yellow, speckled with scarlet in the sun, 

 productive, and. slightly earlier than the common cherry 

 plum. 



Early Tours. (Syn. Precoce de Tours, Early Violet.) Me- 

 ' dium or small, deep purple, bloom copious, blue ; stalk 

 half an inch long, cavity narrow; flesh dull yellow, 

 slightly fibrous, rather sweet, melting, good. Quite ear- 

 ly. Shoots downy. 



Frost Gage. Rather small, round-oval; suture distinct on 

 one side ; skin deep purple, bloom thin ; stalk half to 

 three-fourths of an inch long, scarcely sunk ; flesh juicy, 

 sub-acid, becoming sweet, melting, of fine but not of the 

 highest flavor ; very valuable from its hardiness, late ma- 

 turity, and great productiveness. Shoots smooth, rather 

 slender ; tree tall, upright. Eighteen hundred dollars, 

 says Downing, were received by a single farmer near 

 Newburgh, for one year's crop of this plum. Fig. 264. 



ADDITIONAL VARIETIES. 



Muscle. Fruit oblong, dark red, stone large, flesh thin, of 

 poor flavor. This plum is used only for stocks. 



Sloe, (Prunus spinosa.) Fruit small, nearly globular, dark 

 violet, bloom thick, flesh very acid and powerfully astrin- 

 gent. A large shrub, ten or twelve feet high, thorny ; 

 flowers abundant, ornamental. The double flowering is 

 rather smaller, and more beautiful. Some writers, with 

 too much poetical freedom, speak of the common plum, 

 (Prunus domestical) as an ameliorated sort from the 

 " austere sloe," which being a distinct species, such a 

 change is impossible. 



Red Chicasaw. (Primus Chicasa.) Small, roundish, light 

 red, flesh melting, soft, pleasant. Ripens soon after mid- 



