352 



PLUM. 



equal. The only fault of the true green gage is its 

 liability to crack in wet weather. 



12. Orleans P. — Ripens about the middle of Au- 

 gust. This, if not the best, is certainly the most 

 prolific and profitable of all its tribe. Being so well 

 known, it needs no description ; but it cannot be 

 too highly recommended as a useful fruit for the 

 cook and confectioner ; and from walls, in fine sea- 

 sons, it is not to be despised in the dessert. 



13. La Roy ale P. — This ripens about the end of 

 August, and for richness of flavour is next to the 

 green gage. The fruit are full middle sized, oval, 

 or pear-shaped ; colour light purple on the outside, 

 and bearing a blueish bloom. The pulp is fleshy, 

 yellowish, parts partially from the stone, and 

 abounding with juice of excellent flavour. The 

 growth is delicate though healthy, producing rather 

 wxak shoots of a whitish colour. It is only fit to be 

 trained as a dwarf on a south aspect, in which situa- 

 tion it bears so well as to require thinning. When 

 ripe, it must be protected from wasps : it will hang 

 on the tree till it becomes shrivelled, and then may 

 be preserved as a sweetmeat. When these or any 

 other fruit become scented in ripening, they natu- 

 rally attract flies ; in which case soot, sprinkled on 

 the border beneath, serves as some protection. 



14. Blue or Black Perdrigon P. — Ripens about 

 the end of August, but continues on the tree three 

 weeks or a month afterwards. The fruit are below 

 the middle size, oval, and a little pointed towards 

 the stalk ; colour dark purple when riPe, and thickly 



