76 



PLUMS. 



small red spots on the side exposed to the sun ; the flesh is 

 yellow, melting, very sweet, pleasant without being particularly 

 rich, and adheres to the stone, which is seven lines long and 

 six broad. This fruit ripens the middle of August. It seems 

 doubtful whether Mr. Coxe referred to the same fruit when 

 making his description, which corresponds, however, in several 

 particulars ; I have followed Duhamel in the one above given. 



SMALL MIRABELLE. Auth. 



Prune de Mirdbelle. Duh. | La Mirabelle. Mil. 



Mir abelle petite. Lend. Hort. cat. 



Petite Mirabelle, Little Mirabelle, Petit Drap d'or. 



This plum is one of the smallest of its class ; it is sometimes 

 not larger than a cherry of ordinary size, being but nine lines 

 long and eight in diameter ; and it is deemed of extraordinary 

 dimensions when it attains thirteen lines in length by twelve 

 in diameter ; the peduncle is long in proportion to the fruit, 

 and measures seven to eight lines ; the skin, at its perfect 

 maturity, is of an amber colour, marked with some small 

 reddish dots ; the flesh is yellow, extremely sweet, not very 

 rich, and adheres slightly to the stone, which is smooth, and 

 six lines in length. This fruit ripens about the middle of 

 August, and serves to make fine preserves and compotes, and 

 also for prunes, which, although small, are esteemed. There 

 is a variety of this plum with coloured fruit, called the Red 

 Mirabelle. 



ST. CATHARINE. Pr. cat. Lang. Mil. For. 



LoND. BORT. CAT. 



Prune de Sainte Catherine, Duh. 

 Mirabelle tardive. 



Yellow St. Catharine. Saint Catherine, 



This plum is of ovate form, swollen towards the summit, 

 and smaller at its base, being seventeen lines long, and fifteen 

 at its greatest diameter ; it is somewhat flattened on one side, 

 through which runs a slight suture, and the extremity of the 

 fruit is quite compressed ; the peduncle is inserted almost even 

 with the surface, and is eight lines in length ; the skin is 



