The Apricot. 95 



when in its natural condition, and in full bearing, com- 

 pares well with that even of the peach. Not far inferior, 

 after all, is the sight of a first-class apricot, even in 

 captivity, when in full harvest. So few fruits raised in 

 England are literally of "golden" hue, that the tree is 

 then little less precious as an ornamental one. The 

 stature attained, when growing in the open, is twenty or 

 thirty feet. After infancy it never loses time, soon reach- 

 ing maturity, but the lease of existence is short. In 

 spring and summer it is told at once from all other fruit- 

 trees by the shape of the leaves, these being roundish 

 cordate. They are glabrous, also, on both surfaces. The 

 flowers precede the leaves, coming in March and April, 

 and presenting the accustomed rosaceous symmetry of 

 form pertaining to the Drupiferae in general; the petals 

 are white, or lightly touched with pink. The apricot can 

 stand a good deal of cold, provided the tree be kept dry. 

 While the fruit is in its early stages, a capital protection 

 for it is supplied by a shield of pine-tree branches. 



As expressed in the Latin generic name, this admirable 

 tree is believed to be a native of Armenia, though Koch, 

 who spent so long a time in exploring that country, 

 and the regions adjacent, says that he never met with it 

 thereabouts truly wild. Upon the Caucasus, it ascends 

 the mountain sides, almost to the summit; it occurs also 

 in Thibet, Afghanistan, China, and Japan. The move- 

 ment westwards would seem to have been slow and 

 rather late. No mention, either of the fruit or of the 

 tree, is made in classical literature before the time of 



