534 
towards the end; they are slightly serrate and smooth; when young they are convoluted or coiled, 
and pubescent underneath. Peduncles short, commonly solitary. Calyx erect. Petals white, obovateA 
The drupe is an oblong spheroid, swelling a little more on one side and there grooved, of a blue colour, 
with a bloom on it: pulp yellowish, tender. Shell bony, ovate, pointed at both ends, compressed, 
obscurely excavated; having two longitudinal sutures, one more gibbous, simple, acute, the other 
straighter, dividing, narrow, crenulate.-f- 
It loves a lofty exposure, and is favourable to pasturage. The bark dyes yellow. The cultivated 
garden Plums are all derived from this species. 
It is a native of Asia and Europe; perhaps scarcely of Britain, though it is not uncommon in our 
hedges, but it probably originated from the seeds of some of the cultivated species : which according 
to Pliny came from Syria into Greece, and thence into Italy. 
The varieties of garden and orchard Plums are very numerous, differing in the form, taste, colour 
and substance of the fruit. Parkinson’s catalogue contains sixty sorts, fit, as he says, for an orchard, 
to be stored with good fruit: all which sorts, adds he, are to be had of my very good friend, Master 
John Tradescante, who hath wonderfully laboured to obtain all the rarest fruits he can hear of in any 
place of Christendom, Turkey, yea or the whole world. 
Mr. Miller has given thirty varieties of this fruit, which are cultivated in the English gardens. 
1. Prunus ( Jannehative, Duhcim, n. 1 . 1 . l.) fructu parvo praecoci. The white Primordian. This 
is a small, longish, white Plum, of a clear yellow colour, covered over with a white flue, which easily 
wipes off. It is a pretty good bearer, and, for its coming very early, one tree may have a place in a 
large garden of fruit, but it is mealy, and has little flavour. This ripens the middle or latter end 
of July. 
2. Prunus ( Damas Noir) fructu magno crasso subacido. Tourn. The early Damask , commonly 
called the Morocco Plum. This is a middle sized Plum, of a round shape, divided with a furrow in 
the middle (like Peaches.) The outside is of a dark black colour, covered with a light violet bloom; 
the flesh is yellow, and parts from the stone. It ripens the end of July, and is esteemed for its 
goodness. 
3. Prunus [Petit Damas) fructu parvo dulci atro-casruleo. Tourn. The little black Damask Plum. 
This is a small black Plum covered with a light violet bloom. The juice is richly sugared; the flesh 
parts from the stone, and it is a good bearer. Ripe the beginning of August. 
4 . Prunus (Gros Damas, Duham. n. 4.) fructu magno dulci atro-Cceruleo. Tourn. Gros Damas 
kiolet de Tours, i. e. great Damask Violet of Tours. This is a pretty large Plum, inclining to an oval 
shape. The outside is of a dark blue covered with a violet bloom ; the juice is richly sugared; the 
flesh is yellow, and parts from the stone. Ripe in August. 
5. Prunus ( Orleans ) fructu roundo atro rubente. The Orleans Plum . The fruit is so well 
known to almost every person, that it is needless to describe it; it is a very plentiful bearer, which 
has occasioned its being so generally planted by those persons who supply the markets with fruit, but 
it is an indifferent Plum. It ripens in August. 
6. Prunus (Fother ingham) fructu oblongo atro-rubente. The Fotheringham Plum. This fruit 
is somewhat long, deeply furrowed in the middle. The flesh is firm, and parts from the stone; the 
juice is very rich. This ripens in August. 
j. Prunus (Perdigron ) fructu nigro, carne dura. Tourn. The black Perdigron Plum. This is a 
middle-sized Plum of an oval shape. The outside is of a very dark colour, covered over with a violet 
* Smith. 
f Gcertner. 
