THE CATHERINE PLUM.

This Plum is mentioned by many of the old writers, particularly by DU HAMEL, in terms of commendation; and, notwithstanding the age of the variety, the trees are still sufficiently vigorous and fertile to merit a place in every fruit garden.

The young shoots are strong, their bark dark brown, minutely spotted with yellow. Buds pointed. Leaves long, narrow, being sometimes four and a half inches in length and two and a half in breadth, pointed at both ends, pale green, smooth, bluntly serrated ; petiole about an inch long, thickened at the base, where it is tinted with deep red. Fruit of a middle size, oblong, narrowed near the stalk, broad and flattened at the other end, slightly furrowed or cleft. The skin is of a pale greenish or rather cinereous yellow, intermixed with bright gold colour, covered with a fine meal; beautifully spotted with red when fully ripe. Footstalk usually an inch or more in length, inserted in a small cavity. Flesh yellow, tender, sweet, and of fine flavour. Stone oval, flat, sometimes adhering to the flesh; but when the fruit has been well ripened it separates from it.

This variety is usually ripe early in October, preceding the Imperatrice, which it much resembles in flavour, and may be preserved two or three weeks after being gathered. The specimen was obtained from a west wall in the Royal Garden at Hampton Court.