268 THB FRUIT MANUAL. 



wood has not been properly ripened. The frost lacerates the eap 

 vessels of the external layers of the wood, and the circulation is limited 

 to the inner layers. When vegetation commences, and after the leaves 

 are fully developed on the injured branch, the demand on the powers 

 of the branch for a supply of sap to the leaves fails, ar_d when the sun 

 becomes powerful and evaporation increases the supply becomes pro- 

 portionately less, and for want of nourishment the leaves flag and the 

 branch withers and dies. 



I doubt very much if there is any material difference between the 

 Moorpark and the Peach Apricot. As the Peach Apricot reproduces 

 itself from the stone many seedlings have been raised from it, to which 

 the raisers have given names ; but these so closely resemble the 

 original in every particular, that they are not worthy of being looked 

 upon as distinct. I believe the Moorpark is one of these ; it resembles 

 the Peach Apricot so closely as not to be distinguishable from it ; and 

 the only character to show that they are not identical is, that the 

 Moorpark will grow on the common plum and mussel stock, while the 

 Peach will not, and the Moorpark does not grow on the Damas Noir, 

 while the Peach Apricot does. 



The Moorpark Apricct is said by some to have been introduced by Lord Anson 

 from the Continent, and planted at Moorpark, near Watford, in Hertfordshire. By 

 others its introduction is ascribed to Sir Thomas More, who, in the beginning of 

 last century, is also said to have planted it at Moorpark ; and a third account is 

 that Sir William Temple introduced it. But by whomsoever it was raised or 

 introduced, or at what period, it is quite certain it was very little known till late 

 in the century. Neither Hitt nor Miller notices it in any of the editions of their 

 works. I do not find it mentioned in any of the Brompton Park catalogues before 

 1784, when it is called Temple Apricot. In 1788 it is first called Moorpark. I:a 

 1784 it was cultivated to the extent of three rows, or 300 plants ; but in 1797 the 

 quantity was increased to thirty- five rows, or 3,500 plants. 



MUSCH MUSCH (cV Alexcvndrie). Fruit, small, almost round, and 

 slightly compressed, marked with a deep suture on one side. Skin, 

 deep orange, tinged with red on the side exposed to the sun, and pale 

 yellow where shaded. Flesh, orange, very tender and delicate, juicy, 

 rich, sweet, and perfumed, and so translucent as to show the appearance 

 of the stone through it, and from which it separates freely. Stone, 

 roundish and flattened, with a sharp ridge on the side. Kernel, sweet. 



This is a very sweet apricot ; ripe in the end of July. The tree is 

 a free grower, but delicate on account of its early vegetation, which ex- 

 poses it to the effects of spring frosts. It is distinguished from every 

 other variety by its greenish fawn-coloured shoots and its small pointed 

 leaves. It requires a warm, sheltered situation. 



This variety is said by some to take its name from Musch, a town on the 

 frontiers of Turkey ; but Regnier, in the Magazin Eneyclopedique for November, 

 1815, says when he was in Egypt he saw small dried apricots, which were brought 

 by the inhabitants from the Oasis, which were called Mich-mich. These were in 

 all probability the variety now called Musch Musch. It was known to Duhamel, 

 but it is not described by him, as its cultivation was unsuccessful in the neighbour- 

 hood of Paris, on account of its early blooming and suffering from the spring frosts. 



