Chap. XIII.
Prunus. The Plumme tree.
There are many more varieties of Plummes then of Cherries, so that I must follow the same order with these that I did with them, euen giue you their names apart, with briefe notes vpon them, and one description to serue for all the rest. And in this recitall I shall leaue out the Apricockes which are certainly a kind of Plum, of an especiall difference, and not of a Peach, as Galen and some others haue thought, and set them in a [chapter] by themselues, and only in this set down those fruits are vsually called Plums.
The Plum tree (especially diuers of them) riseth in time to bee a reasonable tall and great tree, whose bodie and greater armes are couered with a more rugged barke, yet in some more or lesse, the younger branches being smooth in all, the leaues are somewhat rounder then those of the Cherrie tree, and much differing among themselues, some being longer, or larger, or rounder then others, and many that are exercised herein, can tell by the leafe what Plum the tree beareth (I speake this of many, not of all) as in many Cherries they can doe the like: the flowers are white, consisting of fiue leaues: the fruit is as variable in forme, as in taste or colour, some being ovall or Peare fashion or Almond like, or sphericall or round, some firme, some soft and waterish, some sweete, some sower or harsh, or differing from all these tastes: and some white, others blacke, some red, others yellow, some purple, others blew, as they shall bee briefly set downe vnto you in the following lines, where I meane not to insert any the wilde or hedge fruit, but those only are fit for an Orchard, to be stored with good fruit: and of all which sorts, the choysest for goodnesse, and rarest for knowledge, are to be had of my very good friend Master Iohn Tradescante, who hath wonderfully laboured to obtaine all the rarest fruits hee can heare off in any place of Christendome, Turky, yea or the whole world; as also with Master Iohn Millen, dwelling in Olde streete, who from Iohn Tradescante and all others that haue had good fruit, hath stored himselfe with the best only, and he can sufficiently furnish any.
The Amber Primordian Plumme is an indifferent faire Plumme, early ripe, of a pale yellowish colour, and of a waterish taste, not pleasing.
The red Primordian Plumme is of a reasonable size, long and round, reddish on the outside, of a more dry taste, and ripe with the first sorts in the beginning of August.
The blew Primordian is a small plumme, almost like the Damascene, and is subiect to drop off from the tree before it be ripe.
The white Date Plum is no very good plum.
The red Date plumme is a great long red pointed plumme, and late ripe, little better then the white.
The blacke Mussell plumme is a good plumme, reasonable drye, and tasteth well.