330 



AMERICAN HOME GARDEN. 



THE APRICOT. 



The Apricot is one of our earliest and pleasantest fruits for 

 eating out of hand ; and though, from its blossoming so imme- 

 diately upon the opening of spring, it is exposed very often to 

 injury or entire loss by spring frosts, as well as to the attacks 

 of the curculio or plum bug after the fruit sets, yet it merits 

 cultivation, and will repay all the care that in ordinary seasons 

 it requires to carry it safely through the period in which it is 

 liable to be injured. To make this easy, the trees should be 

 kept low and compact by proper pruning ; and if there be dan- 

 ger of frost upon the blossoms, set three or four stakes around 

 each tree, and throw over it a large blanket or cloth of any 

 kind, leaving it on in the morning until some time after sun- 

 rise. 



Fig. 193. 



a. Small Apricot 



&. Medium Apricot. 



The period of blossoming may also be retarded by keeping 

 the tree shaded so long as frosts are likely to occur ; and if, 

 notwithstanding this, they come upon the blossoms, the pre- 

 cautions above mentioned must be taken. Branches of ever- 

 green may be used with good effect both in shading and pro- 

 tection. If the tree is trained against a building it will be 

 still more easy to cover it, but in both cases be careful to se- 



