1. Cornell Sta. Bul. 62:20, 21 fig., 31. 1894. 2. Ibid, 106:45, 62, 67. 1896. 3. Ibid, 139:46. 1897. 4. Ibid, 175:132, 133 fig. 26. 1899. 5. Texas Sta. Bul. 32:486 fig. 7, 490, 492. 1899. 6. W. N. Y. Hort. Soc. Rpt. 92. 1899. 7. Ohio Sta. Bul. 162:248 fig., 254, 255. 1905.
Honsmomo 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. Red Nagate 1, 2 incor. Satsuma 1, 2 incor. Shiro Smomo 1, 2, 5. Strawberry 1, 3, 6. Strawberry 2, 4. Uchi Bene 6. Uchi-Beni 1, 2, 5. Uchi-Beni 3, 4. Ura-Beni 1, 2, 3, 4, 5.
At first sight Berger is a wholly insignificant plum, being no larger than a sweet cherry; but the variety is so distinct in several characters that every collection should have a tree or two of it and the plum-breeder will find it most interesting and valuable. Its peculiarities are: A flavor quite distinct from that of any other Triflora plum; its cherry-like appearance; early ripening, maturing in this State shortly after the middle of July; its pronounced upright habit of growth; its light green foliage; and its habit of bearing its fruit close to the old wood. In common with many other Japanese varieties, the nomenclature of Berger is badly confused. According to Bailey, who received specimens of this variety from various sections of the country, H. H. Berger & Company of San Francisco sent out this plum under several names. Berckmans of Georgia received it as Red Nagate; N. S. Platt of Connecticut as Satsuma; to another person in the South it came as Shiro Smomo, while T. V. Munson of Texas grew it under the name of Berger, a term finally adopted by Bailey. In the meanwhile, Stark Brothers of Louisiana, Missouri, introduced a plum very similar to this under the name Strawberry but the variety was dropped by them in 1893. Whether or not this “Strawberry” or “Uchi-Beni,” as it was sometimes called, was really the Berger it is impossible to say but it is certain that both of these names have been applied to the Berger. The following description is a compilation.
Tree vigorous, upright, open-topped, medium hardy; leaves narrow, light colored; blooming season early; flowers white, small.
Fruit very early; unusually small, roundish but truncate at the ends, attractive light to dark red, covered with thick bloom; flesh firm, meaty, light yellow, sweet, of pleasant flavor; fair to good; stone very small and cherry-like, free, with smooth surfaces.
BLACK BULLACE
BLACK BULLACE
Prunus insititia