We cannot answer your inquiries better than by laying before you the following extract from the 'Gardener's Chronicle': - "What are those beautiful black Plums which are now beginning to make their appearance in Covent Garden Market? Damsons? No; they are far larger and finer, and more beautiful than Damsons. Though of the same beautiful bluish-black colour, they are quite twice the size, if not more. They have a little of the same peculiar taste, and a little of that of the Sloe also, but are not so pleasant to the palate as a Coe's Golden Drop, yet, nevertheless, they are very passable, and especially at this late season, when Plums are Plums. The Plum in question is called Sandall's Plum. This fruit has been exceedingly plentiful this season, and we have become almost surfeited with them, but they are now over in most cases. There may be a few choice Golden Drops, or Impera-trices, or Late Reds, or Autumn Compotes, etc, carefully protected in certain places, but nothing in quantity; even the Damsons are over, leaving us nothing but the ' wee' Bullaces for our tarts, pies, and puddings; yet in Covent Garden Plums are still in season, for Sandalls are just coming in.

From whence come they, then? Not from France, which has the credit of supplying everything remarkable in Covent Garden, but from the market-gardens round London. It was only on Tuesday last that we saw in one celebrated fruit-garden more than 100 trees of this Plum in one group; trees, too, of no ordinary size, being from 20 to 40 feet high, with large spreading heads, all densely laden with most beautiful black fruit, every little twig, even, being as thickly set as the berries on a bunch of Grapes; many bushels might be seen on a single tree: truly they were a grand sight! Sandall's Plum has many recommendations; it is indeed singular it should be so little known. It is one of the few Plum-trees which produce timber. The tree has a twiggy sort of growth, of the Sloe type, and attains a large size, forming a clean trunk of considerable length, and we have measured some stems 3 feet in circumference. It is very hardy, and a certain bearer. It is one of the very latest, and, from its beautiful appearance, fetches a high price in the market. It has further the great merit of hanging on to the trees up to the very last, and even when quite ripe there are seldom any blown down by the wind.

It is very little liable to cracking in wet weather - a failing which is the destruction of so many Plums. It will hang on the tree, and be fit for use during the course of two months - September and October. What a valuable tree, then, would not this be in a private garden - just one to supply Plums for cooking, etc, when wanted, until November ! The fruit is of medium size, roundish, of a beautiful jet-black colour, with a thick bloom; flesh reddish, clinging slightly to the stone, moderately juicy, with a smack of the Sloe flavour; an excellent fruit for tarts, etc, and valuable for its lateness. We know little of the true history of this fruit. It originated, we believe, in some of the market-gardens of Fulham, where it is grown, and with Mr Dancer, of Chiswick. It is known simply as Sandall's Plum".