APRIL 



301 



APRIL 



grown in the United States, especially in Cali- 

 fornia, where vast quantities are sent fresh to 



APRICOT, FRUIT AND LEAVES 



market, the bulk of the crop being preserved" 

 in cans. The average value of the annual apri- 



cot crop in the United States is "$3,000,000, 

 California alone producing about 4,070,000 

 bushels valued at $2,800,000. The combined 

 crops of all the other states of the Union 

 total only about 100,000 bushels. 



Apricot trees are subject to a disease known 

 as leaf rust, which if not checked, entirely de- 

 stroys fruitfulness. Careful spraying with 

 germicides is the safest remedy. The stone 

 of the fruit contains a bitter kernel, from 

 which oil is extracted and from which the 

 French make a liqueur. Fresh apricots have a 

 fuel value of 270 calories per pound ; as a heat 

 producer their value is greatly increased when 

 dried, being then equal to 1,290 calories per 

 pound (see CALORIE). The actual food value 

 of dried apricots exceeds that of dates, which 

 have long enjoyed the reputation of being the 

 most nutritious of fruits. Apricots contain 

 4.7 per cent protein, while dates only contain 

 1.9 per cent. See PROTEIN. 



STORY OF APRIL 



PRIL, one of the loveliest months of 

 the year, has a name that is especially fitting, 

 for it comes from a Latin word meaning to 

 open. It is the time of opening buds. Some 

 learned scholars declare that the Romans never 

 named their months in this poetic manner; 

 but those who defend tin- theory are just as 

 learned, and the beautiful idea may have the 

 benefit of the doubt. The special flower of 

 April is the daisy, and its gem is the diamond. 

 April's Place in the Year. April is the 

 fourth month in the year. Originally, in the 

 time of the Romans, it had but tu< nt\-nm< 

 days, but when the Calendar was revised in 

 the time of Caesar it was found that there 

 were ten extra days to be distributed among 

 <>nths, and of these April received one 

 (see CALENDAR). It is thus one of tin- thirty- 

 day months, and so crowded is it with nature's 

 v that not a month in the year makes 

 a greater change in the appearance of the out- 

 of-door world. At the I- >t April in 

 limes snow is often him. tint: in th, 

 hollows, and frequently a sharp frost comes 



and binds fast the little brooks that have 

 been striving so hard to throw off winter's 

 shackles. But April's sun is warm and bright, 

 and no frost and snow can long hold out 

 against it. 



It is a season of new life everywhere. Grass 

 grows freshly green ; trees and shrubs that have 

 seemed dry and dead put out tiny leaves, and 

 In tlr twigs can no longer be snapped oft 

 sharply, for the sap is flowing in them and they 

 have acquired a new strength and a new resist- 

 ance. Early wild flowers push their way 

 through the grass of the meadow or the thick 

 forest carpet of last year's dead leaves, and on 

 lawns and in gardens the crocuses and snow- 

 drops appear. The birds have set out on tin n 

 northward journey, and almost everything 

 \\hirh makes summer delightful has at 

 started. 



This transition month is specially known for 

 its changing weather. Occasionally there are 

 days so cold that they seem to have b 

 IM linul l.y wmtrr, or days so hot that they are 

 advance-couriers of summer; but the most 



