THE APRICOT 283 



Indeed there is a tendency in the direction of 

 smaller seeds, and some of the improved loquats 

 are almost or quite seedless. 



I know of one tree that generally bears fruit 

 that is altogther seedless. This would be a very 

 valuable tree were it not that this particular 

 variety is extremely unproductive. 



The fruit is usually of a pale yellow or deeper 

 golden color, sometimes shaded with orange and 

 crimson on the sunny side. The flavor suggests 

 that of some early apples, and is generally con- 

 sidered a superior fruit. The fruit grows in 

 clusters of three to ten or more, and the im- 

 proved varieties bear very abundantly. In some 

 cases two crops may be produced in the same 

 year. 



The tree grows in the Gulf States and along 

 the Pacific Coast, and it is considerably hardier 

 than the orange, but not quite as hardy as the fig. 

 It is quite commonly grown in California and 

 similar climates for the decoration of parks and 

 home grounds, but most varieties grown for this 

 purpose bear little or no fruit. It grows readily 

 from seed, which germinates at any time of the 

 year. But it is a very difficult seedling to trans- 

 plant, so the seeds should be planted in pots 

 and the entire contents turned out when the 

 plant is a few inches high, after the method 



