THE APRICOT. 433 



higlily attractive ol)ject in eai'ly spring, as its charming flowers are tho 

 first to expand. It forms a fine spreading tree of about twenty feet in 

 height, and is hardy enough to bear as an open standard south of the 

 4r2d degree of latitude in this country. 



The native countries of this tree are Armenia, Arabia, and the higher 

 regions of Central Asia. It is largely cultivated in China and Japan ; 

 and, indeed, according to the accounts of Orosier, the niovmtains west of 

 Pekin are covered with a natural growth of apricots. The names by 

 which it is known in various European countries all seem to be cor- 

 ruptions of the original Arabic term Jjerkodie. 



Uses. A very handsome and delicious dessert fruit, only inferior to 

 the peach, ripening about midsun}mer, after cherries and before plums, 

 at a season when it is peculiarly acceptable. For preserving in sugar 

 or bi-andy, for jellies or jjastries, it is highly esteemed, and, where it is 

 abundant, an admirable liquor is made from the fruit ; and it is also 

 dried for winter use. In some parts of (lei'many, the free-bearing sorts 

 — the Turkey, Orange, and Breda — are largely cultivated for this pur- 

 pose. 



Cultivation. This tree is almost always budded on the plum stock 

 (on which in July it takes readily), as it is found more hardy and du- 

 i-able than upon its own root. Many nurserymen bud the apricot on the 

 peach, but the trees so produced are of a very inferior qiiality — short 

 lived, more liable to diseases, and the fruit of a second-rate flavor. 

 Budded on the plum they are well adapted to strong soils, in which 

 they always hold their fruit better than in light sandy soils. 



Apricots genei-ally gi-ow very thriftily, and soon make fine heads, and 

 produce 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 dii-ected for the plum. Seedling apricots 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 sides of bi'ick 

 houses, and yielding most abundantly. As it bears its fruit in the same 

 way as the peach, ami requires the same management, we must refer our 

 readej-s to the latter head for direction as to pruning and training. As 

 the apricot, however, expands its blossoms ver}' 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 productive state, we 

 cannot too strongly urge the advantages of the shortening-ins,YS,teia.oi 

 pruning recommended for the peach. 



Albergier. 



Alberge. 



This is a variety very common in the interior of France, where it is 

 constantly reproduced Avith but little variation from the seed — Alherge 

 being the name of the ajjricot in some of the provinces. It is a free 

 grower, and bears well, but is neither so large nor fine as many other 



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