S. D. Willard, a nurseryman of Geneva, New York, probably introduced French in this country; at least it was brought to notice mainly through his recommendation. The origin is unknown, but it is probably an introduction from France and may be an old variety renamed. The figure of Prune Petit Damas Violet given by Poiteau is so very similar as to suggest that French may be identical with that sort.
Tree large, vigorous, spreading, dense-topped, hardy, productive; branches numerous, ash-gray, roughish, thorny, with lenticels variable in size; branchlets inclined to develop spurs at the base, rather slender, short, with short internodes, greenish-red changing to dark brownish-drab, dull, somewhat zigzag, thickly pubescent, with inconspicuous, small lenticels; leaf-buds intermediate in size and length, pointed, free.
Leaves folded upward, long-oval, one and one-quarter inches wide, three inches long; upper surface dark green, covered with fine hairs, with a grooved midrib; lower surface pubescent; apex abruptly pointed, base abrupt, margin serrate or nearly crenate, with a few, small, dark glands; petiole eleven-sixteenths inch long, rather slender, pubescent, faintly tinged with red, usually having two very small, globose, greenish-brown glands on the stalk or base of the leaf.
Blooming season intermediate in time and length; flowers appearing after the leaves, one and five-sixteenths inches across, white; borne on lateral spurs, usually in pairs; pedicels five-eighths inch long, slender, covered with short pubescence, greenish; calyx-tube green, campanulate, glabrous; calyx-lobes narrow, obtuse, glabrous on the outer surface, thinly pubescent along the margin and at the base of the inner surface, glandular-serrate, reflexed; petals oval, dentate or fringed, tapering below to short, broad claws; anthers distinctly reddish; filaments seven-sixteenths inch in length; pistil glabrous, equal to the stamens in length.
Fruit late; one and one-half inches by one and one-eighth inches in diameter, ovate, halves equal; cavity very shallow, narrow, flaring; suture a line; apex roundish; color dull black, overspread with thick bloom; dots numerous, small, brownish, inconspicuous; stem slender, three-quarters inch long, sparingly pubescent, adhering well to the fruit; skin thin, tough, separating readily; flesh greenish, juicy, fibrous, tender, sweet, pleasant and sprightly; good; stone variable in adhesion, seven-eighths inch by one-half inch in size, oval, roughened, acute at the base, blunt at the apex; ventral suture rather narrow, heavily furrowed and somewhat winged; dorsal suture with a shallow groove of medium width.
FROGMORE
Prunus insititia
1. Flor. & Pom. 265, Pl. 1876. 2. Mich. Hort. Soc. Rpt. 289. 1889. 3. Can. Exp. Farm Bul. 2nd Ser. 3:51. 1900. 4. Waugh Plum Cult. 130. 1901.
Frogmore Damson 1, 2. Frogmore Prolific Damson 3.