THE 



Canadian Horticulturist 



OCTOBER, 1903 



Volume XXVI 



Number 10 



SHBOPSHIEE DAMSON 



Okigix : England. A variety of the old Dam- 

 sons from which class the Domestic plums of Europe 

 are supposed to have originated. 



Tree : Vigorous and very productive. 



Fruit : Small, one inch long by seven-eighths 

 broad ; form, oval ; color, dark purple with thin blue 

 bloom ; stem, half an inch long, set in a very shallow 

 depression ; suture not traceable. 



Flesh : Greenish in color ; texture fine, melting ; 

 flavor, acid, becoming mild when very ripe ; pit a 

 partial cling. 



Quality : Good for cooking, of no value for des- 

 sert. 



Value : Market, very good. 



FOR many years we have had this 

 plum growing- m our experimen- 

 tal grounds, and esteemed it of lit- 

 tle value on account of its small size. Of 

 late, however, it has risen in our estimation 

 because of its value for culinary uses. For 

 preserving, its small size is not a serious 

 fault, especially since a plum does not need 

 peeling and is not stoned, so that for do- 

 mestic uses this plum, which has long been 

 a favorite, bids fair still to hold a place in 

 spite of the many new introductions. In- 

 deed, there is a growing demand for this 

 little plum which is not met by the supply, 

 and we doubt not that it would pay to ex- 

 tend its cultivation, for it is a good shipper 

 and could be sent to our northwest markets. 

 The Damsons, as a distinct race of plums, 

 have been on record fromi time immemorial. 



By many students of horticultural science 

 they are believed to be the stock from 

 which all the finer domestic plums of 

 Europe have originated. There are several 

 varieties of the Damsons, but the one under 

 consideration is an old English variety and 

 one of the favorites. A fruit grower of 

 Northern Missouri says in the Kansas re- 

 port of 1900: 



" From observation, I believe that the 

 Damson will be the best domestic plum here 

 for profit, and for that reason I have planted 

 more of them than of any other variety. 

 After them are those of similar habits, and 

 that seemingly have Damson blood in them, 

 such as the Richland. Of the Dam^^ms 1 

 have fifty Shropshires, fine growers, and 

 they bid fair to bear young; also I hav"" 

 fifty common Damsons." 



We would be pleased to hear from any 

 readers of this journal who have had ex- 

 perience in growing the Shropshire either 

 for home use or for market. 



Mr. E. D. Smith, M. P., Winona, one of 

 our foremost fruit growers and shippers, 

 says: 



I regard this as a good variety for grow- 

 ers to plant. There is always a certain de- 

 mand for Damson plums, and I think there 



