1914 FRUITS OF ONTARIO. 215 



SHIRO. 



FBUIT: very early, season short; one and one-half inches in diameter, roundish 

 conic, with halves equal; cavity intermediate in depth and width; suture an indistinct 

 line; apex roundish; color light yellow, becoming deeper yellow as the season advances, 

 occasionally with a blush of pink, with thin bloom; dots numerous, very minute, whitish, 

 inconspicuous; stem three-eighths inch long, adhering to the fruit; skin, thin, tough, 



SHIRO. 



sour, occasionally cracking, separating readily, although a thin coating of flesh is left 

 clinging to the skin; flesh light yellow, semi-transparent, the stone being faintly visible, 

 very juicy, fibrous, somewhat melting, sweet, mild, lacks character in flavor; good; 

 stone clinging, seven-eighths inch by five-eighths inch in size. 



SHROPSHIRE DAMSON. 



A small plum, very highly valued for jam and for preserves; much sought after by 

 those who know its value. 



ORIGIN: Shropshire, England. 



TREE: upright, fairly vigorous, quite productive. 



FRUIT: small, oval; color dark purple, with blue bloom; stalk half an inch long, 

 no cavity; suture none. 



FLESH: nearly free from stone; texture melting, juicy; flavor rich, acid. 



QUALITY: dessert, fair; canning, very good to best. 



VALUE: market, first class. 



SEASON: late. 



SIMON (Primus Simoni, Simonsi of Thomas, Simon's Plum). 



A distinct species of stone fruit, having characteristics of both the peach and the 

 plum. It has been tested in Ontario since 1888, and has not realized the expectations 

 of planters who were led to expect in this fruit a substitute for the peach where the 

 latter fruit was uncertain. It has proven itself worthless in the commercial orchard, 

 and valuable only as a curiosity. 



ORIGIN: northeastern China, introduced to France by Eugene Simon and dissem- 

 inated by Simon Bros., of Metz, Alsace. Fruited at Cornell University in 1886, and at 

 St. Catharines, Ont, in 1887. It was placed in the plant distribution list by the Fruit 

 Growers' Association in 1890. 



TREE: upright, slender, lacking in vigor, not productive. 



FRUIT: large; form round transversely and flattened longitudinally; color dark 

 maroon, with a perceptible bloom; stalk half an inch long, stout, set in a deep cavity; 

 suture distinct; stone smooth, clings tightly to the flesh. 



FLESH: orange color; texture, tough and juicy; flavor often bitter, sometimes fairly 

 agreeable. 



QUALITY AND VALUE: very poor. 



SEASON: early August. 



ADAPTATION: to the peach sections. 



