216 NEW AMERICAN ORCHARDIST. 



having a little of the flavor of the peach. It ripens a little 

 after the Early Masculine. 



CULTIVATION. 



The apricot is generally inoculated either on the apri- 

 cot, plum, or peach stock ; the soil, and the maladies to 

 which they are sometimes subject, are similar to the peach, 

 but from the smooth skin which they possess, they are more 

 liable to the attacks of the Curculio. For the preventives, 

 see CURCULIO, in the former part of this work. 



SOIL, &,c. The apricot requires a rich, black mould. 

 They will not flourish in a sandy, gravelly, or cold, damp 

 soil. The distances asunder to which they ought to be 

 set, and their cultivation, are similar to that of the peach. 



PLUM. (Prunus.) 



The plum tree rises to a height of from fifteen to eigh- 

 teen feet, with moderately spreading branches. The leaves 

 are ovate, serrated ; the petioles short ; the flowers are 

 white. The fruit is a drupe ; its color varying from white 

 or yellow to red, to blue, or to black ; the pulp is sweet or 

 subacid; the stone smooth, ovate, pointed, compressed. 

 Mr. Knight and others consider the Sloe Plum (P. spinosa) 

 as the parent, not only of the Bullace, (P. insititia,) but of 

 all the varieties of the English plums, (P. domestica.) The 

 plum tree is supposed to be originally from Asia, but is also 

 found growing in a wild state in North America. It is 

 more hardy than the peach, as it flourishes in Canada ; from 

 the confines of the tropics to high northern latitudes. 



USES. The finest varieties are esteemed a delicious 

 dessert fruit ; the more ordinary varieties are used for pies, 

 tarts, preserves, &-c. The Perdrigons, the Q,uetsches, or 



