APRICOT 



547 



boxes, of large, well-developed and well- 

 formed fruits, than to have the same 

 number of pounds or boxes of small 

 fruits, some of them malformed because 

 of crowding. 



Varieties 



The best variety grown in the North- 

 west is the Moorpark. In all the Pacific 

 coast states, as California, Oregon and 

 Washington, the Moorpark takes the first 

 place and brings to the growers the most 

 money in proportion to the labor and ex- 

 pense of growing. It is a vigorous grower, 

 begins to bear at the age of two years, is 

 large, well-flavored and much in demand. 



Apricots are used mostly for canning 

 and for drying. For special information 

 on these subjects, see articles on Canning 

 and Evaporating. 



Granville Lowtiier 



Propagation of Apricots 



The apricot is like the apple, in that 

 it will not come true from the seed, and 

 therefore must be propagated by budding 

 or grafting, the former being almost ex- 

 clusively employed. For the best results, 

 seeds should be stratified in sand and 

 frozen during the winter, as described for 

 apples. Apricot seed, however, being 

 larger and more able to meet adverse con- 

 ditions than the apple, are sometimes 

 planted In the fall in well-prepared 

 ground. Here they freeze and come up 

 without delay in the spring. If stratified 

 for freezing (see Apple), they should be 

 planted in early spring before they have 

 begun to sprout. The young seedlings 

 are to be given good culture during the 

 summer, but are not to be dug up in the 

 fall like apple seedlings. If they are to 



be budded, the work should be done about 

 the first of September, during the first 

 season's growth. If it is desired to graft 

 them, the seedlings should be cleft- 

 grafted near the ground in early spring, 

 at the beginning of the second season's 

 growth, under conditions already de- 

 scribed for the apple. If buds fail to take 

 in the fall, the stock may be grafted the 

 following spring. One year's growth, after 

 being either budded or grafted, should 

 make sufficiently large plants for setting 

 them in the orchard. For details of bud- 

 ding, see discussion under the peach. 



The apricot is often budded upon the 

 peach, as the latter thrives upon a greater 

 variety of soils than the apricot. The 

 common plum makes an excellent stock 

 for the apricot where it is grown in wet 

 situations. 



W. L. Howard 



Varieties of Apricots and Synonyms 



Acme, Chinese. SJiense; Alexander. 

 Russian Xo. 2; Blenheim, Shipless : Ber- 

 da, Annas. DeHoUande : Cluster; Early 

 Golden, Dubois: Harris, Harry Hardy; 

 Hem's Kirke; Large Early, Gos Precoce; 

 Moorpark, De'Xaticy ; Newcastle, New- 

 castle Early: Orange, Early Orange: 

 Peach, Peach Royal; Russian; St. Am- 

 broise; Sheridan; Surprise; Tilton. 



The very early varieties are the Harris, 

 Hem's Kirke and Royal. 



The early varieties are the Acme, 

 Early Golden, Large Early and Peach. 



The Moorpark is one of the best vari- 

 eties for the Northwest and is medium 

 early. 



Granville Lowtheb 



