THE PLUM IN KANSAS. 1.7 



sor Bailey has pointed out, it is unquestionably closely related to that 

 species. The Sand jjlum is of interest to us not only on account of 

 its being a native of the plains, but also as having produced the 

 "Utah Hybrid cherry" by hybridizing with the Nebraska Sand 



cherry. 



Simon's Peach {P. simonii Carr). A small tree, with dark green, 

 oblong- elliptical, short-petioled, finely or irregularly serrated leaves, 

 which are three to four or five inches long and three-fourths to one 

 and a half inches wide ; flowers small, rose-red ; fruit globose, flat- 

 tened on the ends, one and a quarter inches long by one and a half 

 inches broad, dark red, with a hard, yellow flesh ; stone furrowed and 

 pitted, flattened, sharp-edged. Original distribution : China. This 

 new fruit has attracted much attention under the name given above, 

 as well as " Simon's plum" and "Apricot plum," but although a pretty 

 fruit, with remarkable keeping qualities,- it is said to lack one very 

 essential quality, viz., palatability. Professor Bailey says: "The 

 flavor in all the specimens I have tasted is very disagreeable, being 

 mawkish, bitter, and leaving a pronounced bitter-almond taste in the 

 mouth. I have never tried a specimen which I could say was edible, 

 and this is an unwilling confession, because the fruit is exceedingly 

 attractive to look upon." However, upon the Pacific coast it is con- 

 siderably grown, and market quotations given by Professor Bailey 

 indicate that it brings high prices. 



Myrobalan Plum. {P. myrohalana Lois). — A shrub or small 

 tree, bearing thin, elliptical or ovate-elliptical leaves, which are smooth 

 and green above, light green below, and hairy on the ribs, finely and 

 irregularly serrate, and one and a half to two inches long and about 

 half as wide ; flowers single or in twos, stalked, small, and white ; fruit 

 globose, about an inch in diameter, yellowish-red, its flesh somewhat 

 soft, sweetish, enclosing a smooth, flat and sharp-j^ointed stone. 

 Original distribution : Asia Minor, Transcaucasia, Turkestan, and 

 southwestern Liberia. This species is used mainly as a stock upon 

 which to bud other kinds of plums. ' Several varieties known as 

 "Cherry plum" have been produced by long cultivation, but they 

 do not appear to possess much merit. Recent studies of the plum 

 have led Professor Bailey to conclusions that the De Caradeuc is of 

 this species, and that the Marianna is of this species or a hybrid be- 

 tween it and some American plum, possibly the Wild Goose. 



Common Plum (P. donestira Lois). A moderate-sized tree, with 

 thin, smooth, elliptical, or oblong-elliptical leaves, which are one and 

 a half to three inches long and half as wide ; flowers one to several in 

 a cluster, greenish-white, appearing with the leaves ; fruit blue-black, 

 globose, elongated, an inch or more in diameter, with soft, yellowish, 



