THE APRICOT 267 



season give one a fairly good idea as to what size 

 and quality of fruit the future tree will bear. 



On the other hand, the apricot has a peculiar 

 habit of sending out a young shoot, and then 

 postponing further growth until the buds set and 

 ripen, and this complication may make the choos- 

 ing of the seedlings a more difficult matter than it 

 is in the case of apples, pears, and peaches. For 

 when the growth is checked in this manner the 

 buds may become turgid and the leaves of unusual 

 size on some plants, suggesting great possibili- 

 ties, whereas, in fact, these plants may have no 

 greater intrinsic merit than others that have con- 

 tinued their growth and so will show at the 

 moment smaller buds and leaves. 



These complications must be very carefully 

 taken into account in choosing seedlings to save 

 for the development of improved varieties. 



The general rule that large leaves, full buds, 

 and large short- jointed stems indicate individ- 

 uals that will bear large fruit of fine quality must 

 be constantly regarded, but the complications in* 

 troduced by the anomalous habit of growth just 

 referred to must not be overlooked. 



CAN THE MICROSCOPIST HELP? 



In carrying out a series of selections with 

 the idea of developing a race of apricots 



