218 CALIFORNIA FRUITS I HOW TO GROW THEM 



generally, except with certain varieties which have generally gone out 

 of use for that reason. 



The worst injury to tree and fruit is done by what is called the 

 "shot-hole fungus" (coryneum), from its perforations of the leaves as 

 though by a charge from a shotgun. It makes ugly scars on the fruit, 

 which renders it unsalable. The same disease also affects the leaves of 

 cherries and plums. Thorough use of the Bordeaux mixture described 

 in a later chapter will prevent this trouble. 



A disease which is prevalent in some districts of southern Cali- 

 fornia is called "black heart" ; a pith disease which sometimes does 

 great injury. No treatment except that of pruning back to healthy 

 wood has thus far been proposed. Root knot is also a serious trouble 

 of the apricot as of several other trees. It will be considered in the 

 chapter devoted to disease of fruit trees. 



Until recently the apricot has been generally free from scale in- 

 sects, and it is not affected by those species which are worst on some 

 other fruit trees, but recently it has been seriously infested in some 

 places with black and brown scales, which will be considered in a later 

 chapter. 



The ripe apricot is sometimes seriously assailed by the diabrotica, 

 a small green beetle, with twelve black spots upon its wing covers. 

 Driving the insects away with smoke smudges has been used to some 

 extent. Fortunately, the insect only occasionally occurs in large num- 

 bers. 



Varieties Approved by California Growers. 



VARIETIES OF THE APRICOT 



Though nearly all standard varieties of the apricot have been in- 

 troduced and planted in this State, comparatively few are found on the 

 list of the orchard planters. Many local seedlings have been brought 

 to notice and propagated to some extent but are less used now than 



