merce as imported to this country under name of French prunes or
dried plums. By a selection of the richest varieties, there is no
doubt that prunes superior to those of foreign preparation might be
easily obtained. The following description of an oven purposely
built for prunes, and doubtless, with some modifications, well adapted



40S



THE PLC'M.



to the drying of other fruits, is given in Liegel's Treatise, (German,)
as quoted in the Horticulturist. The amount of heat obtained by a
small quantity of fuel, commends it to the particular attention of
those engaged in drying fruit :

" Prunes," says Liegel, " have become an important article of com-
merce. In' order to have them fair and glossy, they must be sud-
denly cooled^ when withdrawn from the oven.

'^The country-people in this part of Germany prepare their
prunes by putting them into their bread-ovens. I have put up, for
my own use, a very conveniently arranged drying apparatus, which,
after the experience of many years, I am induced to recommend \

and for the construction of
which I give the annexed draw-
ing and explanatory description :
" The vault or exterior of the
oven, four and a half feet long,
is surrounded by a brick wall
one foot thick, so that the whole
stove, abed, (see figs. 1 and
2,) is exactly six feet every
way; the front wall, n, being
only half a foot in thickness.
At the top, the vault is arched
over with six inches of brick-
work at the crown of the arch.
The flues, i i, are about four-
teen inches square. The hur-
dles or trays, m m, for containing the prunes, rest upon shelves fixed
upon two bearers. It would be better if they rested upon rollers,

so as to admit of their being
pushed in and drawn out with
greater ease. These lines of
trays are place at a distance of
six inches from the furnace, so
as to keep the fruit from too
great a heat ; they may be made
entirely of wood, but it will be
better "if the bottoms are of
open-work, like shelves. Their
weight is such that they may
be easily managed by a woman ;
but in preparing prunes on a
large scale, let them be made
of greater length and breadth,
so as to just come within the
fig. J. _ strength of a more robust person.





WORTHY GE:SERAL CULTIVATION. 409

" The wooden frame, h k, is that on which the two doors are hung.
The door, g, which covers the arch, (and which is represented in the
cut as open and fastened up,) shuts up the front of the upper part
of the oven. In the middle of this upper door or flap is a round
vent-hole, for the escape of the moist vapor, k is an iron damper
or slide, to be placed in the flue at I Z, in order to regulate the heat.

"A thousand fully ripe quetsches (prune plums) make about
ten pounds of dried prunes.

"Plums of different kinds may be dried, either whole or deprived of
their skins and stones. In the latter case, they are styled prunellcs'^

Characters and Classfication. — The characters of the plums
are represented by the texture of the flesh as combined with its
juiciness and flavor ; and what are termed gages (a word really of
no meaning as applied to the fruit) represen't fruits of round form,
very delicate, and of a rich, sugary, jnicy, high flavor. The prunes
are known as those fruits that are dry in the texture of their flesh.-
The character of size is one of which Washington may be taken as
large. Green Gage as medium^ and Mirabelle as small; while the wood
being smooth or doivny^ needs no explanation, and the depressed line
on one side, called a suture^ is the same as in cherries or peaches,
and often serves as a guide in detecting varieties. The classification
by most writers of divisions of green, M'hite, or yellow, and of blue,
or red, or purple, we adopt only in our text descriptive of each
distinct variety ; preferring as a practical matter, here as elsewhere
in our work, to follow that of, in short, best, very good, and good.

Varieties. — These are far too numerous for any practical use ;
and while we may have possibly reduced too much, we yet feel that
the uses and wants of community will be best supplied in this fruit
by a few really valuable, and for the particular purposes pointed out
in our text descriptive.



CLASS I. — Worthy General Cultivation.
Bleecker's Gage.

German Gage.

41aised at Albany, N. Y., about forty years since, by Mrs. Bleecker.
The tree is of healthy, hardy habit, and a regular, sure bearer.
Branches., downy ; leaves., dark green ; fruit., medium size, roundish
oval, very regular; suture., slight; skin., yellow, with numerous im-
bedded white specks, and a thin white bloom ; fiesh^ yellow, rich,
18



410 THE PLUM.

sweet and luscious flavor, separatiug freely from the stone, which is
pointed ; stalk, an inch or more long, downy, inserted in a slight
cavity. Season, last of August here ; in Georgia, first of July. Dis-
tinguished from Prince's Yellow Gage by its larger stalk and later
maturity.

Coe's Golden Drop.

Bury Seedling, I New Golden Drop,

Coe's Imperial, | Fair's Golden Drop,

Golden Gage.

This is an English variety. Tree only moderately productive ;
and although we should always plant, yet it does not always mature
perfectly north of 40° latitude. Branches, smooth ; fruit, large,
oval ; suture, well marked, one side enlarged ; skin, light yellow,
much dotted or mottled with red on side exposed to sun ; Jlesh, ad-
hering to the stone, yellowish, firm, rather coarse-grained, but rich and
sweet ; stalk, three-fourths to an inch long, rather stiff. Season,
last of September. The Yellow Egg is often grown under this
name at the West.

Denniston's Superb.

A variety originated in the famous garden of Mr. Denniston,
Albany, N. Y. Its great productiveness, together with its period of
ripening, more than its quality, makes it desirable. Branches, downy ;
fruit, medium, cr rather above, roundish, slightly flattened ; suture,
distinct ; skin, pale yellowish, overspread with a thin bloom, and
mottled or clouded with purple ; fesh, thick, not juicy, but with rich
vinous flavor; stone, small, roundish, from which the flesh parts
freely ; stalk, three-fourths inch long, set in a cavity of moderate
depth. Season, 15th to 20th August.

Early Orleans.



Wilmot's Early Orleans,
New Early Orleans,
New Orleans,



Grimwood's Early Orleans,
Hampton Court,
Monsieur Hatif.



An English variety, which on account of its quality and early
maturity must always make it popular as an orchard fruit. Branches,
downy ; fruit, medium, reund oval ; suture, shallow^ ; skin, dark red-
dish purple ; flesh, yellowish green, of rich, brisk flavor, and separat-
ing freely from the stone ; stem, usually about half inch long, but
varying. Season, first August.

Green Gage.



Ida Green Gage,

Waterloo,

King of Plums,

Wilmot's late Green Gage,

Schuyler Gage,

Rensselaer Gage,

Isleworih Green Gage,



Wilmot's Green Gcige,

New Green Gage,



Brugnon Gage,
Bruyn Gage,
Bradford Gage,
Reine Claude,
Grosse Reine Claude,
Grosse Reine.



" During the last century, an English family Vy the name of Gage



WORTHY GENERAL CULTIVATION. 4II

obtained a number of fruit trees from tlie monks of Charteuse, near
Paris. Among them was a tree of this plum, which, having lost its
name, was called by the gardener the Green Gage." There are very
few trees in bearing of the true variety at the West, the Imperial
Gage having been often sold as Green Gage. The true variety is
readily known by its short-jointed, slow-growing, spreading, and
dwarfish habit. It also requires a rich, warm soil to insure fruit in
perfection in locations north of 42 deg. Branches, smooth ; huds^
with large shoulders ; fruity medium, round ; suture^ slight ; skin^
yellowish green, marbled and dotted on the sunny side with red ;
fesh separates freely from the stone, pale green, exceedingly melt-
ing, rich, sprightly, high flavor; stalk, slender, slightly inserted.
Season, midddle to last August.

Imperial Gage.

Prince's Imperial Gage, I White Gage,
Flushing Gage, | Jenkinson's Imperial,

Superior Green Gage.

This is an American variety, originating at the old nursery of Wm.
Prince, Flushing, N. Y. In heavy, strong soils it is sometimes
deficient in flavor, probably from a deficiency of some particular
element in the soil, as it produces abundantly, grows vigorously, and
trees apparently healthy. In light, loamy, or even dry, poor soils,
it is a hardy, productive variety, and the flavor often almost equal-
ling a true Green Gage. As a market variety, it is far superior to
Green Gage, and hardly surpassed by any other plum. Branches^
slightly downy, dark-colored, upright, vigorous ; fruit, above medi-
um, oval; sw^wr^, distinct; skin, &t first pale green, with a white
bloom, becoming yellowish green, marbled with dark green stripes ;
Jlesh, greenish, juicy, rich, sprightly flavor ; stone, oval, with flesh
occasionally adhering. In good seasons and soils it separates freely
from the stone ; stalk, long, hairy, stout, inserted in an even cavity.
Season, first September ; at the South, July first.

Jefferson.

An American variety, originated by Judge Buel, at Albany,
N. Y., probably from a seed of Coe's Golden Drop, which in growth,
wood, etc., it closely resembles. It has been pretty extensively
tested, both in this country and in Europe, and fuily sustains the
high character given it by the late A. J. Downing. The Bingham or
Clingstone plum has occasionally been disseminated fur this variety.
In rich, high flavor, it does not equal the Green Gage, but its large
size, great beauty, productiveness, freedom from decay, and habit of
hanging long on the tree after ripe, render it valuable for all colleo
tions. Branches, nearly smooth; fruit, large, oval, slightlj n^ir



412 THE PLUM.

rowed one side toward the stalk ; skm, at first greenish yellow,
becoming golden yellow when fully ripe, and with a rich reddened
cheek in the sun, bloom thin, white ; suture, slight ; Jlesh, separating
nearly free from the long pointed stone ; yellow, almost orange yel-
low ; juicy, with rich flavor; stalk, an inch long, inserted without
depression. Season, last of August ; at the South, last of July.

Lombard.

Bleecker'.? Scarlet. | Beekman's Scarlet.

An American variety, which, as a tree, is thrifty, healthy, hardy,
and productive ; while the fruit appears less attractive than most
others to the curculio. It is therefore very desirable. Branches,
smooth, bright purple, very thrifty, leaves much crumpled ; fruit,
medium, roundish oval, slightly flattened at ends ; suture, slight ;
skin, violet red, dusted thinly with bloom ; Jlesh, yellow, juicy, not
rich, but pleasant flavor; stalk, slender, three-fourths inch long, -set
in a broad, open cavity ; adheres to the stone. Season, middle to
last of August.

Lawrence's Favorite.

Lawrence Gage.

An American plum, raised from seed of the Green Gage by Mr. L.
U. Lawrence, Hudson, N. Y. It forms a tree of upright, thrifty
growth, and bears young and abundantly of fruit much resembling
outwardly the Green Gage, except being larger. Branches, downy,
short-jointed; fruit, large, roundish ; skin, dull yellowish green,
clouded with streaks of a darker shade beneath, and in sun, around
the stem a mottling or dotting of brownish red, bloom light blu-
ish green ; flesh, greenish, juicy, rich, excellent, only surpassed by
Green Gage. When fully ripe, separates freely from the stone ;
stalk, half inch long, slender, inserted in a narrow cavity. Season^
middle August.

McLaughlin.

An American variety, raised by James McLaughlin, Bangor,
Maine. The tree is very thrifty, making stout vigorous shoots of
four to six feet in a season; but forming a lound, regular head.
Originating so far north, it vsdll unquestionably prove a most valua-
ble variety for northern culture. The fruit, in character of quality,
resembles the variety just previously described. Branches, smooth ;
leaves, broad, glossy ; fruit, above medium, roundish, flattened at
ends ; suture, obscure ; skin, thin, tender, russet yellow, sprinkled
with a red tinge, which deepens to a purplish hue around the stalk ;
fleshy adhering to the stone, dull yellow, firm, juicy, excellent ; stone,



WORTHY GENERAL CULTIVATION. 418

roundish ; stalk, three fourths inch long, inserted without depression.
Season, middle to last of August.

Madison.

An accidenial seedling in the Denniston Garden, Albany, N. Y. ;
and, according to Dr. Herman Wendell, a hybrid from Bleecker's
Gage and Blue Gage, Its flavor, late period of maturity, and hardi-
hood, commend it to a first place. Branches, slender, smooth;
leaves, light green, slightly downy ; fruii, medium, roundish oval ;
suture, slight ; skin, light orange, with a cast of greenish yellow, in
sun mottled and spotted with lake carmine, bloom thin, delicate ;
flesh, yellow, firm, juicy, rich and sweet, agreeable flavor, separates
freely from the stone, which is small, oval, pointed ; stalk, three-
fourths inch long, inserted in a regular, not deep basin. Season^
first to fifteenth October.

Ottoman.

Imperial Ottoman

A foreign variety, but from whence is uncertain. We have fruited
it several years, and as an early variety have not met its superior.
The trees are hardy, regular, not rampant growers, and regular,
abundant bearers. Branches, slightly downy ; fruit, medium, round-
ish 'bval, regularly formed ; skin, greenish yellow, marbled with
darker shades in stripes underneath ; if permitted to hang it becomes
mostly pale yellow, bloom thin ; suture, only half way down on
one side ; jlesh, yellowish, juicy, rich, sweet, delicious, and when
fully ripe parts freely from the stone ; stem, downy, three-fourths
inch long, inserted in a cavity of moderate depth. Season, last July.

Purple Favorite.

This variety the late A. J. Downing states to have been planted
and grown by his father. Although of dwarfish, slender habit, the
trees aie very hardy, and bear when young. For large market or-
chards it is not as valuable as some other varieties, but in private
gardens it should always have a place. Branches, smooth, short-
jointed ; fruit, medium, or rather above, roundish obovate ; skin^
brownish purple, dotted with golden specks, bloom light blue ; fesh,
pale greenish, juicy, sweet and excellent, and separating freely from
the stone, which is small ; stalk, three-fourths inch long, depression
slight. Season, last of August.

Purple Gage.

Reine Claude Violette, | Violet Queen Claude,

Die Violette Koning Claudie.

A foreign variety, moderate bearer, bu' high flavor. Branches,



414 THE PLUM

smooth, short-jointed ; fruit, medium, roundish, a little flattened ;
suture, shallow ; skin, violet, dotted with pale yellow, bloom light
blue; flesh, greenish yellow, firm, sugary, high flavor; stone, oval,
compressed, from which the flesh separates freely ; stalk, an inch
long, set in a narrow basin. Season, about 10th September, but
will hang a fortnight, shrivelling slightly.

Prince's Yellow Gage.

American Yellow Ga2:e, | White Gage,

Harvest Gage.

A variety produced in 1783 by the elder Mr. Prince, of Flush-
ing, N. Y. The trees are abundant bearers, and the fruit carries
well to market and always sells readily, wherefore one reason for
placing it in this class. As a table fruit it is often too dry, and does
not deserve to be planted in small gardens where market sales are
not contemplated. Branches, smooth, short-jointed ; leaves, glossy ;
fruit, slightly above medium size, oval, broadest near the stalk ;
suture, a mere line ; skin, golden yellow, little clouded, bloom white,
abundant ; flesh, yellow, sugary, rich, sometimes rather dry, parts
freely from the stone; st-alk, an inch long, set in a round cavity.
Season, early in August ; at the South, middle of June. It is stated,
also, at the South to ripen gradually, to be juicy, and of the best.

Red Gage.

An American plum, raised from seed of the Green Gage, by the
elder Wm. Prhice, in 1790. The tree is of hardy, yet vigorous
habit, wood dark reddish color, and producing abundantly a fruit
rather small, yet of the best flavor. Branches, smooth ; leaves, crim-
pled ; fruit, hardly medium size, oval, rounded ; skin, brownish red,
bloom slight ; flesh, parting freely from the stone, greenish amber,
juicy, sweet, delicious; stalk, slender; cavity, narrow. Season,
middle August.

Saint Martin's.

St. Martin's Quetsche.

A German fruit : the word quetsche, or prune, not applying to this
fruit, we prefer to drop it. It is a juicy, not a dry prune plum. The
trees are good bearers, and the time of ripening makes it profitable
for market or preserving. Branches, smooth ; fruit, medium, or
rather above, ovate, broadest at base ; skiji, bright yellow, dotted a
little with brownish red in the sun, bloom white ; flesh, yellowish,
juicy, rich, excellent. Season, 1st October, but will hang two weeks.

Schenectady,

Schenectady Catherine

An American plum, originated at Schenectady, N. Y., and first in



FOR AMATEUR CULTURE. 415

troduced to notice and described by Dr. Herman Wendell. Tree,
thrifty, hardy, and prolific. Branches, smooth, rather slender \ fruity
above medium, roundish oval, broadest and slightly depressed at
stem end ; suture, shallow ; skiri, rich, deep purple, slightly netted
on the sunny side ; flesh, greenish yellow, fine-grained, meltiiiy;,
juicv, rich, sweet, delicious flavor ; stone, small, thick, ovate, parts
readily from the flesh ; stalk, three-fourths inch long, rather slender,
mserted in a deep, narrow cavity. Season, last August.

Washington.

Bolmar, | Franklin,

Bolmar's Washington, Parker's Jlammoth,

New Washington, | Irving's Bolmar.

The original tree of this variety grew on what, in 1818, was known
as Delancey's Farm, and now constitutes a portion of New-York city,
known as the Bowery. It was introduced to notice, grown and dis-
tributed by Michael Floy, Esq., American Editor of Lindley's Guide
to the Orchard. Without possessing high flavor, the uniform hardi-
hood of the tree, with its productive habit, large size of fruit, and
often freedom from attack of curculio, renders it a most popular
variety, and for market deservedly so at the North. In Georgia,
and other sections South, it is said to be entirely flavorless and dry,
so that while we cannot avoid placing it in the first list, it is requi-
site to give this qualification. Branches, downy ; fruit, large, round
ish oval; suture, obscure, except near the stalk; skin, dull^ yellow,
with faint marblings of green, and on the sunny side some little i-cd,
often dotted ; flesh, yellow, firm, sweet, and separating freely from
a pointed stone; stalk, nearly three-fourths inch long, downy,
planted in a wide, shallow basin. Season, last of August.



Class II. — Mtv and untested; suited to certain localities, or grouids
of extensive Amateur Pomologists.

Autumn Gage.

Roe's Autumn Gage.

American. Productive, branches smooth. Fruit medium, oval, broad-
est at base, pale yellow, whitish bloom, flesh greenish yellow, juicy, sweet,
separates freely from a stone long, compressed, and pointed at both ends ;
stalk three-fourths inch long. September 15.

Albany Beauty.

Deniston's Albany Beauty.

American. Branches slightly downy. Fruit below medi im, roundisb



416 THE PLUM.

oval ; skin whitish green, with purple dots, bloom thin ; flesh yellow,
rich, sweet, not juicy, separates freely from a small pointed stone; stalk
sleuder, one inch long. Last August.

Blue Imperatrice.

Imperatrice, I Imperalrice Violette,

Veritable Imperatrice, ( Violette.

Foreign, A fine variety, almost worthy the first class. The true Blue
Imperatrice must not be confounded with Semiaua or Blue Imperatrice
of some eastern growers. (See Semiana.) Branches smooth, long, slender.
Fruit medium, obovate, tapering to the stalk, deep purple, bloom blue,
thick ; flesh greenish yellow, rich, sugary, hangs long on the tree, adheres
to the stone. Last September.

Bingham.

American. Productive, branches downy. Fruit above medium, oval,
deep rich yellow, dotted with red in the sun ; flesh yellow, juicy, rich,
delicious, adheres to the stone; stalk three-fourths inch long, slightly sunk.
Last August.

Blue Plum.

Branches smooth ; leaves rather small ; tree productive. Fruit me-
dium, roundish, scarcely oval ; suture obscure, dark blue, light blue bloom ;
flesh yellowish green, juicy, sweet, adheres to the stone ; stalk three-
eighths inch long, inserted in a shallow cavity. Season middle -July, in
Georgia ; middle August, here. Propagated by suckers. Description by
W. N. White, Athens, Ga.

Buel's Favorite.

American. Branches smooth. Fruit large, ovate ; suture half round,
pale green, little red next the stalk ; flesh greenish yellow, firm, juicy,
adhering to a long pointed stone ; stalk three-fourths inch long. Last
August.



Cherry.



Early Scarlet,
Myrobolan,
Virginian Cherry,
Der Virginia,



Golden U.erry.



D'Amerique Rouge,
Prunus Myrobolana,
Prunus Cerasifera,
Miser Plum,



A variety of which many sub-varieties have been and are constantly
being produced from seed. Its chief merit is in the tree being ornamental,
and the fruit maturing early. Being very p.^etty for the dessert, commands
ready sale. It requires root-pruning every two years, in order to make
it productive. Branches smooth. Fruit small, round, yellow and red,
shaded and mottled : flesh greenish, juicy, pleasant, adhering closely to an
oval stone; stalk short, cavity narrow. Middle of July. The Chckasaw
Plum {Pruniw chicasi) is very similar to this.



FOR AMATEUK CULTURE. 417

Cloth of Gold.

l>ap dOr, I Mirabelle Grosse,

Mirabelle Double, | Yellow Perdrigon.

Foreign. Productive, branches slightly downy. Fruit below medium,
round ; future indistinct; skin briglit yellow, crimson specks in sunj
flesh yellow, sugary, rich, adheres slightly to the stone. Early August.

Columbia.

Columbian Gage.

American. Valuable market sort, productive, succeeds well South ;
branches downy. Fruit large, globular, one side enlarged ; skm brown-
ish purple, with fawn-colored specks, blue bloom ; flesh orange, rather
coarse, dry but sugary, separates freely from stone, which is small, com-
pressed ; stalk an inch long ; cavity small, narrow. Last August.

Cooper.

Cooper's Red, | Cooper's Large Red,

Cooper's Large American.

American. Described by Coxe, in 1817, as grown from a stone of^
Orleans. Some writers state it to be identical with " Smith s Orleans ;
but we do not so consider it. Fruit large, deep purple, with a bloom ;
suture shallow and broad ; stem three-quarters inch long; flesh coarse,
yellow, "good.'' Last August.

Cruger's Scarlet.

t Cruger's, | Cruger's Seedling,

Cruger's Scarlet Gage.

American. Productive, and comparatively free from attacks of cur-
culio. Branches downy. Fruit httle above medium, roundish oval ;
skin lilac red, with thin bluish bloom and yellow dots, in dark shade one
side, pale fawn color ; flesh orange, rather dry, rich, separates free from
stone ; stalk half inch long ; basin shallow. Last August.

De Montfort.

Foreign. Branches downy. Fruit above medium, roundish, light pur-
ple, spotted with brownish yellow, and with blue bloom; flesh light yel-
low, rich ; when fully ripe, parts freely from stone ; stalk half inch long.
Middle August.

Deniston's Red.

American. Branches smooth. Fruit medium, roundish oval; suture
half round; skin light red, with fawn- colored dots, bloom thin ; flesh am-
ber color, separates freely from a small, oval, compressed stone ; stalk long,
blender. Last August.

DowNTON Imperatrice.

Foreign. Branches smooth, valued for preserving. Fruit medium,
18*



il8 THE PLUM.

oval, narrowing to the stalk, pale yellow; flesh yellow, melting; unless
fnlly ripe, acid, then sweet, adheres to the stone ; stalk three-fourths inch
long. Last of September. Sometimes grown as Yellow Egg.

DoMiNE Dull.

German Prune, | Dutch Prune,
Dutch Quetzen.

American. From seed of the Dutch Prune ; productive and valuable
for drying ; branches smooth. Fruit medium size, long oval ; skin dark
purple, nearly black, with blue bloom ; flesh yellow, juicy at first, if
allowed to hang on the tree becomes dry, rich and sweet, adheres to
stone ; stalk an inch long. September.

DuANE's Purple.

V
Duane's Purple French, | English Pond's Seedling.

Foreign. Branches downy. Fruit large, oblong oval, one side enlarged,
reddish purple in sun, pale red in shade, dotted with yellow specks, lilac
bloom ; flesh amber color, juicy, slightly acid, adhering to the stone ;
stalk three-fourths inch long, slender, narrow cavity. Early August.