AMERICAN HOME GARDEN. 331 



cure the covering so that the wind, if prevailing, will not dash 

 it against the blossoms. 



Apricots may be planted at the distance of from ten to fif- 

 teen feet, the former being sufficient if the trees are well 

 pruned. A pretty rich warm loam suits them best. They 

 may be budded on seedling apricots, plums, or peaches. Ei- 

 ther of the two former, however, are to be preferred to the lat- 

 ter, and of them those of free growth. Among plums, a vari- 

 ety of stock known as the pear plum is generally preferred for 

 the apricot. 



APRICOTS 



Numbered nearly in the order of their ripening. 



1. Large Early. 



2. Early Golden. 



3. Royal. 



4. Hemskirke. 



5. Breda. 



6. Peach. 



7. Moorpark. 



8. Turkey. 



These are all worthy of attention, but Nos. 1, 4, 6, and 7 

 are of superior size and quality. 



THE BERBERRY. 



The Berberry is said to derive its name from the Arabic, 

 Fig. 194. connecting us by a very thorny tie to the Ber- 

 bers of Africa. It is found wild, not only in 

 Africa, but in Europe, Asia, and both North 

 and South America. It is a well-known acid 

 and seedy fruit, sometimes used for preserves, 

 jellies, tarts, and pickles, but too sour for any 

 thing except the last or an acid gargle. 



It makes a perfectly impenetrable hedge 

 fence, but its habit of spreading by offshoots 

 renders it objectionable. The bark and wood 

 make a fine yellow dye. The stamens of the 

 common red kind seem to possess a peculiar 

 susceptibility, so that, when touched, they 

 spring over and deposit their pollen upon the 

 stigma of the mature flower. Some new varieties have recent- 

 ly been obtained from India and the Straits of Magellan. 

 They are raised from seeds, cuttings, layers, or offshoots. 



