COE'S GOLDEN DROP.

This Plum is known, in some collections, under the name of the Bury Seedling, or Coe's Seedling; and is said to have been raised from seed by Mr. COE, at Bury, in Norfolk. In opposition to the statement, that it is a variety of very recent origin, it is asserted, that a tree, of at least fifty years' growth, was cut down in the garden of Mr. SCHOLEY, at Putney, about five years ago. The trees are of very vigorous growth, and, in most seasons, highly productive ; their leaves are large, being frequently 5 inches in length, and 3 inches in breadth; dark green on their upper surface, smooth and paler beneath: the ample foliage of this variety distinguishing it from any of its congeners. Fruit oblong, or rather bell-shaped ; from 2 to 21⁄2 inches in length, and about one fifth less in breadth; the broad end irregular, one side projecting rather beyond the other: the cleft or furrow very slight, and in some Plums scarcely perceptible. Skin greenish yellow, spotted on the side next the sun with violet and crimson: the gold colour of the flesh is seen through the skin, when fully ripe, presenting a rich appearance. Stone very flat, elongated at the top; the lower end oval, with a sharp point.

The following recommendation of this fruit is copied, by permission, from a paper by Mr. KNIGHT, in the HORTICULTURAL TRANSACTIONS. " I shall take this opportunity of pointing out to the HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY the merits of a new variety of Plum, (Coe's Golden Drop,) as a fruit for the dessert during winter, with which the public are not sufficiently well acquainted. Having suspended by their stalks, in a dry room, some fruit of this variety, which had ripened on a west wall in October, in the year 1808, it remained perfectly sound till the middle of December, when it was thought by my guests and myself to be not at all inferior, either in richness or flavour, to the Green Gage, or Drap d'Or Plum. I am informed by Mr. WHITLEY, of Old Brompton, from whom I received it, that it bears well on standard trees." - HORT. TRANS. Vol. I. p. 182.

It must be observed, however, that on standard trees the fruit is generally cracked, and remains hard; unless in very favourable seasons. The specimen from which the annexed Plate was taken, ripened on a west wall, in the ROYAL GARDEN at HAMPTON COURT, in September 1813. It may be confidently recommended as superior to any late Plum at present in the British Gardens.