Fruit early, season short; seven-eighths inch by three-quarters
inch in size, ovate or roundish-oval, light red changing
to dark red at maturity, the skin speckled with small red
dots before fully ripe; skin tough, astringent; flesh light
greenish-yellow, very juicy, melting, subacid except near the
skin; poor; stone clinging, five-eighths inch by three-eighths
inch in size, large, elongated-oval, with smooth surfaces.
COPPER
_Prunus domestica_
=1.= Coxe _Cult. Fr. Trees_ 234. 1817. =2.= Prince _Pom. Man._
=2=:93. 1832. =3.= Elliott _Fr. Book_ 425. 1854. =4.= Downing
_Fr. Trees Am._ 906. 1869. =5.= _Am. Pom. Soc. Cat._ 36. 1875.
=6.= _Cornell Sta. Bul._ =131=:183. 1897. =7.= Waugh _Plum
Cult._ 98. 1901.
_Copper_ 2. _French Copper_ 3, 4. French Copper 1, 2, 6.
It is supposed that Copper came from France but very little is actually
known regarding its history. The round early variety described by Coxe
and Prince is distinct from the Copper now grown in this country. It
is probable that the Copper of Downing and of the American Pomological
Society are either distinct, or are early strains of the fruit described
here, since both are mid-season plums while the variety of the following
description is distinctly late. This old sort has been recommended of
late by nurserymen and some plum-growers and it may be worth putting on
the markets again as the trees are extremely productive, the fruit ships
well, and its extreme lateness might extend the plum season. The fruit
is not fit for dessert but makes an attractive, dark red, well-flavored
sauce.
Tree variable in size and vigor, round and dense-topped,
productive; branches numerous, with large lenticels; branchlets
twiggy, marked with scarf-skin, glabrous throughout the season;
leaves folded upward, obovate or oval, one and one-half inches
wide, three and one-half inches long; upper surface rugose;
margin serrate or crenate, eglandular or with small dark
glands; petiole pubescent, tinged red, glandless or with one or
two globose glands; blooming time mid-season, short; flowers
appearing after the leaves, seven-eighths inch across; borne
singly or in pairs.
Fruit very late, season of medium length; one and one-half
inches by one and three-eighths inches in size, roundish-oval,
slightly necked; cavity almost lacking; color a metallic
brownish-purple, overspread with thick bloom; skin thick,
tough, somewhat astringent; flesh dull yellow, medium juicy,
firm, moderately sweet; poor; stone free, seven-eighths inch by
one-half inch in size, irregular-ovate, abruptly contracted at
the base, with roughened surfaces; dorsal suture prominent.
CRITTENDEN
_Prunus insititia_
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