CHAPTER VI. 

 THE PLUM. 



The classification of the varieties of plum has been effected in part by the color of the fruit ; 

 thus plums are divided into the light and dark varieties ; the first embracing the green, 

 white or yellowish white kinds, the second the red, purple and blue kinds. A subdivision 

 is founded upon the adherence or non-adherence of the flesh to the stone, as in the instance 

 of peaches. Mr. J. J. Thomas has employed size as a farther subdivision, yet with due 

 deference to authority so good, I should always prefer some other, inasmuch as size is a 

 character too variable to be applied with a sufficent degree of certainty. It is true that 

 there are many cases where size is not very inconstant, under the same climate and the 

 same culture ; but in most cases it is a character too variable for the employment of the 

 naturalist. 



The following arrangement I propose to adopt in the classification of the plum. 



Class I. Fruit white, or yellowish white, yellow or green. 



Order I. Flesh free of the stone. 

 Order II. Flesh adherent to the stone. 



Class II. Fruit red, purple or blue. 



Order I. Flesh free. 



Order II. Flesh adhering to the stone. 



Class I. Color white, yellowish white, green or yellowish green. 

 Order. I. Flesh free. 

 1. IMPERIAL GAGE. 

 Flushing Gage. 

 Fruit rather above the medium size; oval, with a distinct suture, symmetrical; base 

 evenly depressed. Color yellowish green; skin marbled in obscure greenish stripes, 

 and covered with a whitish bloom. Flesh generally free, greenish, rich and juicy, 

 when on good soils. Tree productive. 



This variety was produced from the Green Gage, at Prince's nursery, Flushing, N. Y. 

 Downing remarks that it requires a dry light soil, and that it is insipid when grown upon 

 clay or heavy soils. 



[AGRICr/LTTTKAL EEPOET VOL. III.] 21 



