PLUM«. 



77 



green, approaching a little to a yellow hue ; the flesh is of a 

 similar colour, rather firm, and even tough, with but little 

 flavour unless the fruit is fully ripe ; but when it has attained 

 to perfect maturity it becomes partially melting, quite sweet, 

 and of a pleasant flavour ; the stone adheres but slightly to 

 the flesh ; it is nine lines long and six broad, and has a deep 

 groove along one of its edges. This fruit ripens about the 

 middle of September, and from it are made the most esteemed 

 prunes of Tours. 



GERMAN PRUNE. Pr. cat. 



True large German prune. Large German prune. 

 Prune plum, \ Quetsche. Lond. Hort. cat. 

 Quetschen, Couetche. Quetsche commune, 

 Zwetschen. N. Duh. | Prune d^Allemagne la commune. 



This plum is of a singular form ; it is oblong, somewhat 

 flattened on two of its sides, with the other two of unequal 

 dimensions, one being almost flat, and the other projecting ; 

 the side which projects is that which is parallel with the edge 

 of the stone ; and it is also marked by a suture whose sides 

 are not uniform, one being more raised than the other. The 

 whole length of the fruit is two inches, and its greatest diame- 

 ter fifteen to sixteen lines ; the peduncle is seven to eight lines 

 long, and inserted nearly even with the surface of the fruit ; 

 the skin is purple, covered with a thick bloom, which imparts 

 to it a bluish hue ; the flesh is of a greenish colour, and firm ; 

 the taste sweetish, with but Httle flavour ; the stone is very 

 flat, fifteen lines long, seven broad, and at most three and a 

 half in thickness. This fruit ripens at the end of August or 

 beginning of September ; it is not extensively disseminated in 

 France, and but partially so in the neighbourhood of Paris ; 

 but in Germany it is cultivated to a great extent, and in 

 particular districts it is almost the only variety planted, to the 

 exclusion of all other kinds ; and in that country, as well as in 

 Lorraine and in Switzerland, excellent prunes are made from 

 it. The tree is of vigorous growth and healthy appearance, 

 and seems to be well suited to our climate. The Prune plum 

 of Coxe appears to be quite a different variety from the one 



