THE KANSAS APRICOT. 97 



duce an abundance of blossoms and young fruit ; but the crop of the 

 latter frequently falls off when half grown, from being stung by the 

 plum-weevil or curculio, to which the smooth skin of this fruit seems 

 highly attractive. To remedy this, the same course must be pursued 

 as is directed for the plum. Seedling ajmcots are usually more hardy 

 and productive here than the finer grafted sorts. This is a favorite 

 tree for training on walls or espaliers, and, in town gardens especially, 

 we often see it trained against the side of brick houses, and yielding 

 most abundantly. It bears its fruit in the same way as the peach, and 

 requires the same management. As the apricot, however, expands its 

 blossoms very early, it should not be placed on an east wall, or in a 

 situation where it is too much exposed to the full morning sun. 



Diseases. — When budded on the plum this tree is but little liable 

 to diseases, and may be considered a hardy fruit-tree. In order to 

 render it fruitful, and keep it for a long time in a i^roductive state, we 

 cannot too strongly urge the advantages of the shortening-in system 

 of pruning recommended for the peach. 



Downing describes forty-four varieties. 



THE APRICOT. 



From Thomas's "American Fruit Culturist." 



It is remarkable that a fruit of such excellence as the apricot, that 

 ripens from one to two months before the best early peaches, should 

 be so little known. In its natural character it is more nearly allied 

 to the plum than the peach, resembling the former in its broad leaf 

 and the smooth stone of its fruit, but downy like the peach, and par- 

 taking largely of its flavor and excellence. The apricot is budded on 

 seedling aj)ricots, and on peach and plum stocks. Plum stocks are 

 preferred, and are more especially adapted to heavy soils; on light 

 soils the hard-shelled almond and the wild plum have i^roved excel- 

 lent. 



The soil should be deep and dry. Young trees have frequently 

 perished from a wet subsoil, even where the surface is not unusually 

 moist. On suitable soils, the tree is as hardy as most early peaches, 

 but its greatest drawback is that its blossoms open so early and the 

 young fruit is so tender that they are often destroyed by frost. The 

 trees have been commonly planted in the warmest situations, as on 

 the warm side of buildings or other sheltered site, facing the hot sun, 

 where they have blossomed early, and, as a consequence, the crop has 

 not unfrequently been destroyed by vernal frosts. Hence, a northern 

 or more exposed aspect would be far preferable. If trained on a build- 

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