Horemoritzer Reine Claude. Domestica. 1. Mathieu Nom. Pom. 435. 1889.
Reference found by Mathieu in Pomologische Monatshefte 33. 1889.
Horrigan. Domestica. 1. Can. Exp. Farm. Bul. 43:38. 1903.
Mentioned as being tested.
Horse. Species? 1. Knoop Fructologie 62. 1771. 2. Lond. Hort. Soc. Cat. 148. 1831. 3. Prince Pom. Man. 2:87. 1832. 4. Kenrick Am. Orch. 263. 1832. 5. Downing Fr. Trees Am. 301. 1845. 6. Floy-Lindley Guide Orch. Gard. 303. 1846. 7. Vt. Sta. An. Rpt. 13:335. 1899.
Early Damson 3. Horse Plum 3, 4. Irish Horse Plum 2. Large Early Damson 3. Large Early Damson 5. Large Sweet Damson 4. Prune de Cheval 1. Ros-pruim Double 1. Sweet Damson 3, 5.
Plums from at least two and possibly three species are known as the “Horse Plum.” In New York the Horse Plum used by nurserymen as a stock is undoubtedly Prunus cerasifera. The plum referred to by Waugh, in the preceding reference, is a variety of Prunus domestica. It is difficult to determine the species referred to by the older writers, but from the frequency with which the word Damson appears as a synonym, it would seem that some at least had in mind Prunus insititia.
The Horse plum brought into this country by the early Dutch or French settlers, propagated by seedlings or suckers was probably an Insititia. During the first half of the last century, this plum was extensively raised in this State and large quantities were sold in the New York market. It is described as follows:—
Fruit of medium size, oval; suture distinct; reddish-purple; flesh greenish, firm, sweet, dry; poor; usually freestone; mid-season.