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PLUMS 



The Plum, the Damson, the Sloe, and the Bullace are all 

 forms of Primus communis, which is common in hedges, 

 thickets, and open woods in Europe and in Western and 

 Central Asia. Like the Apple and the Pear, the Plum was 

 a favourite fruit with the Romans; the form of Plum culti- 

 vated at Damascus (whence Damascenes or Damsons) has 

 a reputation which dates from the days of Pliny. The 

 Chinese also are said to have cultivated different kinds of 

 Plums from time immemorial. There are several hundred 

 named varieties in the British Isles, some of which are of 

 recent origin, but of many of them nothing is known beyond 

 that they came originally from France. Seedlings generally 

 show considerable variation, but, on the other hand, some 

 varieties are said to come tolerably true from seeds, especially 

 the Green Gage, Prune, Myrobalan, and Damson. In the 

 United States of America a new race of Plums is now in 

 process of evolution at the hands of breeders and cultivators, 

 from sorts originated in Japan. An account of these will be 

 found on page 162. It is usual to graft all varieties of 

 Piums on the Mussel, or St. Julien, as a stock. 



Three standard varieties of Plums are represented in the 

 Plate. 



