sely adds, these come in about the same
time as Victoria, when there is a glut. Early or late varieties usually
sell best. A new variety, Bittern, raised (as so many varieties have
been) at Sawbridgeworth, by the late Francis Rivers, seems well worth
trying: "Fruit rather large, deep purple, very heavy crop, habit bushy,
compact, vigorous, excellent early free-bearing variety. R. August 2."

Curlew is another "early free-cropping purple plum, habit erect,
vigorous," also raised by Francis Rivers. Monarch is a late, good, and
very saleable plum. It is said that 75 per cent. or more of the plums
planted in recent years have been Victorias. Planters should avoid the
Victoria glut. Pond's Seedling, red and very large, coming in after
Victoria, often sells well. Put up in a small basket it is inviting, and
sells for an eating though properly a cooking plum. Early Prolific is
also largely planted, but does not suit all soils. The white Magnum
Bonum or egg plum (very large), good for cooking and preserving, sells
well in London, but needs a strong soil. It is an early September fruit.
Wyedale is popular in Yorkshire, valuable for its lateness, and for
keeping sound on the trees when ripe; its habit is diffuse, size rather
small, a good cropper. Mr Pearson names Goliath, a large reddish purple
plum, "a good cropper, habit diffuse and vigorous, a very useful cooking
plum. R. September 7."

At the Plum Congress held at Edinburgh in September 1889 an election of
sorts was made with the following result:--

_Dessert Plums_
Votes.
Jefferson 72
Coe's Golden Drop 69
Green Gage 57
Kirke's 57
Early Transparent 25
Oullin's Golden Gage 16
Reine Claude de Bavay 14

_Culinary_
Votes.
Victoria 74
Pond's Seedling 54
White Magnum Bonum 52
Early Prolific 40
Goliath 31
Early Orleans 27

The friend who sent me this list remarks: "Newer plums supersede some of
these. Czar does not crack with the wet as Orle