CULTURAL CONDITIONS FOR THE APRICOT 217 



PLANTING THE APRICOT 



The apricot becomes a large tree in California, as has already 

 been remarked, and it should be given plenty of room. Twenty-four 

 feet each way is certainly the minimum distance for so large and 

 long-lived tree, and some orchards have been planted at thirty feet. 

 If nearer planting is done it should be with reference to subsequent 

 removal of part of the trees, which, however, is very seldom done. 

 Twenty feet apart, with later removal of half the trees to double the 

 distance was proposed by H. D. Briggs, of Azusa, in this way : 



In setting out an orchard it seems advisable to double set the ground, as 

 an apricot twelve to fifteen years old should have not less than 800 to 900 

 square feet of ground. This can easily be obtained by setting 20x20 feet; 

 then when nine or ten years old remove every other tree, making them forty 

 feet in the row, with rows twenty feet apart, of course, taking them out 

 diagonally. The trees will very quickly tell the orchardist when they are 

 too thick. When the outside rows have twice the fruit of those inside it is 

 quite evident that the time spent in pruning, etc., on half of the trees is worse 

 than wasted. I have cut roots forty feet from a nine-year-old tree. 



The apricot makes such rapid growth and so much depends upon 

 giving it proper form, as will be seen presently, that one year's 

 growth it all that should be allowed in the nursery. Some growers 

 would rather have a dormant bud than a two-year-old tree, and 

 cases have been reported from dormant buds outgrowing yearling 

 trees planted at the same time in the same orchard. But in growing 

 from a dormant bud in the orchard great care should be taken to 

 develop a short trunk, with properly-spaced branches, by pinching 

 the side shoots near the ground. Trees started from dormant buds 

 and allowed to branch from the ground, have developed very un- 

 satisfactory form, and have, in some situations, lost their lower 

 branches by the wind. The tree should have a low head, but a short 

 trunk seems to give a better tree, and more elasticity to the branches. 



PRUNING THE APRICOT 



Of all California orchard trees, the apricot seems most in need 

 of the constant attention of the orchardist to give it proper shape 

 and strength. It is a rampant grower, and in its zealous haste for 

 size and fruitage it over-reaches itself and becomes the prey of 

 specific gravity and wind force. Thousands of trees have been 

 ruined by literally breaking to pieces with the weight of their fruit, 

 and being torn by winds of only ordinary velocity. Thousands more 

 have been rescued from such a fate by bolting the branches to each 

 other. This excessive growth and consequent weakness of the 

 apricot is greater in some parts of the State than in others, because 

 of the difference in degree of forcing conditions, but everywhere 

 the apricot needs watchfulness and timely aid in building up its 

 strength. The general principles to be observed in securing branches 

 strongly attached 'to a short trunk have already been discussed at 

 length in Chapter XII. The adjacent engraving shows their appli- 

 cation to branching the apricot. 



