192 



Bulletin 131. 



Tree hard)-, vigorous and fairly productive. We have worked over our trees 

 to what we regard as better sorts. [Strongly resembles Empire. Shipper's 

 Pride is the earlier by two or three days, bluer, more pointed, with a longer 

 stem, stone wholly free whilst in Empire it is cling. Quality only fair. See 

 Figs. 41 and 42. — z,. H. B.] 



* Shropshire Damson (Fig. 46). — Dark purple; rather obovate, a little 

 larger than ordinary Blue Damson ; very productive. It ripens from last of 

 August to early in September and can be profitably grown in the orchard. 

 Like many others of the English sort, however, it is inclined to drop its fol- 

 iage early. 



Smith's Orleans. — Largely grown twenty -five years since and then 

 regarded as a valuable sort for the family garden, but its period of ripen- 

 ing, — little past middle of August, — has rendered it unpopular in the com- 

 mercial orchard list, hence it is but rarely found in the nurseries of to-day. 



46. — Shropshire Damson. Two-thirds full size. 



Fruit large ; flesh yellow, juicy and rich ; skin reddish purple ; excellent for 

 eating. 



Spaulding. — Medium size ; yellowish green ; quality fair. Moderately 

 productive and ripening a little earlier than Reine Claude. Has nothing of 

 especial value to commend it to the commercial orchardist. This variety 

 was put upon the market as curculio-proof, which, of course, it is not. 



Stanton. — Origin, Albany Co., New York. Fruit medium size; nearly 

 round ; excellent in quality either for eating from the hand or preserving. 

 Ripening middle of September, often later, and having the property of 

 keeping well after being picked. Tt is an excellent shipper, but unless 

 picked before too mature is inclined to drop from the tree. It is a little 



