[ S2S 3 



L. On the Classification of Plums. By Mr. John Robert- 

 son, F.H.S. 



Read September 5th, 1820. 



Ha v in g, in a former communication,* had the honour to 

 present to the Horticultural Society an attempt to effect a 

 systematic arrangement of the varieties of the Peach and 

 Nectarine, I now beg leave to lay before it, a further endea- 

 vour to reduce those of the Plum under a similar classifica- 

 tion. For this purpose, I have, as in the former instance, 

 disposed them in classes, divisions, and subdivisions. 



Adhering also to the same principle, that the greater 

 divisions, forming the basis of the structure, should be 

 distinguished by the most obvious, precise, and perma- 

 nent characters, in framing this arrangement, I have founded 

 the classes on the appearance, or non-appearance of down 

 on the extremities of the year-old shoots of the plant, 

 dividing, by this means, the family of Plums into nearly 

 equal portions ; each of these I have separated into two 

 divisions, distinguished by the shape of the fruit, under 

 the denomination of Round and Oval ; expressions to be 

 understood with some latitude, the former designating all 

 such Plums as are globular, though depressed or flattened, 

 and the latter all those which vary from the globular form 

 to any length. 



* See vol. iii. page 380. 



