The Fruit Garden. 127 



8. The Apricot — Armeniaca Vulgaris. 



The apricot is a native of central Asia, and is the most beau- 

 tiful of all the stone fruits. It ripens about midsummer, or 

 immediately after the cherries. In this country it may be cul- 

 tivated in the open air, in almost any locality south of Massa- 

 chusetts. Like the nectarine, it is very liable to be destroyed 

 by the curculio. Let the poultry or pigs have access to the 

 trees when the fruit begins to di'op. 



The apricot is generally budded on the plum stock. It 

 should be placed on a north, east, or west aspect, and be pro- 

 tected by a wall or fence. It requires no pruning. The best 

 varieties are the Large Early, 

 Early Golden, Breda, Moorpark, 

 and Hemshirke. 



4. The Plum — Prunua Domes- 

 tica. 



Several varieties of the plum 

 are found growing wild in this 

 country, but the original parent 

 of most of our cultivated sorts is 

 supposed to have been brought 



from Asia. The varieties are nu- geeen-gage plum. 



merous. The Green Gage, an old English plum, still keeps its 

 place, in popular estimation, at the head of the list ; but for a 

 single variety, we should choose the Jefferson. The following 

 is Downing's selection of choice varieties : 



1. Elvers'' Early Favorite.— First of August. Foreign. 



2. Green Gage. — Middle of August. Foreign. 

 8. Imperial Ottoman.— Lasi of July. Foreign. 



4. Jefferson (the plum of plums\— Last of August. American. 



5. Laiorence's Favorite. — Middle of August, American. 



6. Purple Favorite.— A\\gxLs.i. American. 



7. Purple <?<)'<7e.— September. Foreign. 



8. Coe''s Golden Drop.— Last of September. Foreign. 



9. McLaughlin. — Last of August. American. 



10. Imperial Gage.— Yir&t of September. American. 



11. Howard''^ i^(/r(?/v7f.— September. American. 



