352 THE APRICOT. 



this insect, and by selecting a dry sub-soil, are able to obtain 

 heavy crops of this delicious midsummer fruit. 



More recently varieties from southern Russia have been in- 

 troduced, which, so far as hardiness and vigorous thrifty 

 growth are concerned, appear to have advantages over the 

 elder kinds in cultivation. But thus far in producing satisfac- 

 tory crops of fruit for market purposes, apricots east of the 

 Rocky Mountains neither North nor South have been very 

 successful except with a few skilful growers. 



By careful management, of which it is surely worthy, suffi- 

 cient for family use may be obtained wherever the fruit will 

 grow, but that apricots may be expected to be about as pro- 

 ductive as the peach, as one prominent authority has recently 

 stated, unless indeed in a few favored localities, is hardly prob- 

 able. The following varieties are the most worthy of culti- 

 vation : 



VARIETIES. 



Alexander. Medium, oblong, orange yellow, spotted red, sweet, 

 juicy, early. Good. Prolific. Freestone. Russian. 



Alexis. Large, yellow, red blush, sub-acid, rich and good. Does 

 well in West. Ripens about July isth. Russian. 



Black. (Purple Apricot, Noir, Violet.) Small or medium, round; 

 pale red where densely shaded, dull deep purple or nearly black 

 in the sun ; surface with a thin down ; flesh red near the skin, 

 yellowish at the stone, somewhat fib- 

 rous, sweet, slightly astringent, with 

 a pleasant, good flavor, inferior to the 

 common apricots in quality. Kernel 

 sweet ; adheres to the stone. Hardy 

 as an apple-tree, and very produc- 

 tive. A distinct species (A. dasy- 

 carpa) from the other apricots. Ri- 

 pens with the Breda. Reproduces 

 itself from the stone. There is an- 

 other quite different apricot, called 

 Violet or Red Angoumois ; small, ob- 

 long, lighter red, free from the stone. 



Blenheim. (Shipley.) Large, oval, FIG. 4 8 7 . Breda, 



surface orange ; flesh deep yellow, 



juicy, rather rich. Stone roundish, not perforate. Kernel bit- 

 ter. A popular variety for canning in California. 



Breda.* (Holland, Amande Aveline.) Rather small, sometimes 

 nearly medium (an inch and a half diameter), roundish, ob- 

 scurely foursided, suture distinct ; surface orange, with a dark 

 reddish orange cheek ; flesh deeo orange, free from the stone, 



