APRICOTS. 271 



Purple. See Black. 



RED MASCULINE (Abricotin; Drown Masculine; Early Red Max- 

 t-uline ; Friihe Muacateller ; Miisque Hatif ; Precoce). Fruit, small, a 

 little over an inch in diameter ; roundish, inclining to oblate, marked 

 with a suture, which is rather deep at the stalk, and becomes more 

 shallow towards the apex. Skin, bright yellow on the shaded side, 

 and deep orange spotted with dark red next the sun. Flesh, deep 

 orange, tender, and juicy, with a sweet and somewhat musky flavour, 

 separating freely from the stone. Stone, thick, obtuse at the ends, 

 and impervious along the back. Kernel, bitter. 



A very early apricot ; ripe on a wall in the middle and end of July. 



This is a very old variety, being mentioned by Parkinson as early as 1629, and 

 appears to have been so well known that every subsequent writer takes notice of it. 



ROMAN (Common ; Transparent]. Above medium size, oblong, 

 sides compressed. Skin, pale yellow, with rarely a few red spots next 

 the sun. Suture, scarcely perceptible. Flesh, dull yellow, soft, and 

 dry, separating from the stone, and possessing a sweet aud agreeable 

 acid juice, that makes it desirable for preserving. Stone, oblong, im- 

 pervious. Kernel, bitter. 



Ripe in the middle of August. 



Rouge. See Angoumois. 



ROYAL. Large, oval, and slightly compressed. Skin, dull yellow, 

 tinged with red where exposed. Suture, shallow. Flesh, pale orange, 

 firm, juicy, rich, and vinous, separating from the stone. Stone, large 

 and oval, impervious. Kernel, bitter. 



An excellent apricot, and little inferior to the Moorpark. Ripe in 

 the beginning of August. 



Royal George. See Orange. 

 Royal Orange. See Orange. 

 Royal Peach. See Peach. 

 Royal Persian. See Orange. 



SARDINIAN (De Sardaifjne). This is a small early apricot, not 

 much larger than the Red Masculine, but equally as early, and much 

 superior in flavour to it. The skin is white, but where expose! to the 

 eun it is spotted with a few crimson spots, and sometimes has a flush 

 of red. The fruit has a deep suture on one side. The flesh is very 

 juicy, with a sprightly sweet flavour, which is very agreeable. The 

 stone is very small, not more than half an inch long, with a covered 

 channel, which is pervious. Kernel, bitter. 



The tree is a great bearer, and ripens its fruit as early as the Red 

 Masculine. 



