NOTES ON THE CULTIVATION OF THE Al'ttlCOT, 



\OTES OX THE CULTIYATIOX OF THE APRICOT. 



BY WILLIAM TOMPKINS, GERMANTOWN, NEW YORK. 



A MODERN writer says : " It is remarkable tliat a fruit of so much excellence as 

 the Apricot, ripening before the best early peaches, should be so little known, 

 commanding as it does the highest price in the market." Inasmuch as I have 

 been quite successful in the cultivation of this fruit, and am willing to add my 

 mite of practical experience for the general good, I propose to say a few words 

 on this subject for the benefit of those persons who have failed in its culture, and 

 those, also, who are afraid to try, on account of its great enemy, the Curculio. I 

 will first state that I am located on the east bank of the Iludson Kiver, twelve 

 miles below the city of Iludson. The soil on the ridges is a strong loam, with a 

 clay subsoil, containing a very great percentage of lime. This is the favorite soil 

 of the Apricot ; the trees grow moderately fast, and make a good, firm growth of 

 wood, that generally stands our cold winters well. Owing to the heavy texture of 

 the soil, the circulation or flow of the sap is not so easily excited by the effects of 

 warm spells of weather, which we generally have during the fall and winter months, 

 consequently the fruit buds remain dormant during these trying spells nntil the 

 proper time of starting arrives. This, in my opinion, is the reason the fruit buds 

 of the Peach and Apricot are so seldom winter-killed in this locality. The most 

 trying time for the Apricot, with us, is when in full bloom ; at that period we 

 frequently have cold, windy weather, and sometimes frost. On referring to ray 

 journal, I find the following entries: April 16, 1854, commenced snowing very 

 fast ; wind, northwest ; snow fell a foot deep ; fruit buds of the Apricot just ready 

 to burst. May 1. Apricots in full bloom ; cold north wind ; made ice, at night, 

 fths of an inch in exposed places. Notwithstanding the cold and frosty weather 

 of the 1th of May, all Apricot-trees in sheltered ])laces had a pretty good crop of 

 fruit. Last season (1855), they produced an aljundant crop, especially where 

 they stood somewhat sheltered, setting twice as much fruit as they could with 

 safety mature. When the fruit was half-grown, I ])ickcd about two bushels off, 

 scarcely any of them showing the mark of the Curculio ; as the fruit advanced 

 towards maturity, it was quite evident there was not half enough taken off yet. 

 However, there was no more taken off the trees till the fruit got ripe, but if I 

 had taken twice the amount off, in a green state, that I before mentioned, the crop 

 would have sold for more. The crop during the past season has not only been 

 gratifying to my pride as a fruit-grower, but has proved eminently profitable con- 

 sidering the labor bestowed. From 25 trees, part nine years planted, and the 

 balance planted within the last four years, there were taken 12 bushels of this 

 delightful midsummer fruit, wdiich sold, in the New York market, at prices ranging 

 from $5 to $10 per bushel, the most of them for the latter price. At the time I 

 bought the farm where I now reside, there was an old Apricot-tree on an adjoin- 

 farm which was then 30 years old ; it was about eight inches in diameter, and 

 feet in height, with a fine, low, spreading head ; this tree stood near the 



