Naturalisation in Extra-Tropical Countries. 385 



is a peculiar apricot-tree. Dried apricots and peaches (the stone 

 removed) have become an article of extensive trade, particularly so 

 in Upper India. In 1887 there were 175,500 cases of Apricots sent 

 from California, also 3 million pounds of the evaporated fruit 

 [Journal Society of Arts] . Apricots, Peaches, Plums and Cherries 

 can additionally be preserved as syrupid fruit by heating for J or 

 J- an hour in a water-bath the fresh fruit, placed with sugar in glass 

 bottles, by strewing on the surface of the contents salicylic acid in 

 the proportion of a teaspoonful to 4 Ibs., and by finally closing the 

 vessels with salicylic paper. Many kinds of insects, attacking 

 orchard-fruits, can be much subdued by placing loose grass around 

 the trees, and burning it, while the insects largely harbor under it 

 at day- dawn. Where water-pressure is available, insects can be 

 destroyed by the mechanic force of spray, with avoidance of 

 dangerous admixtures. 



Prunus Caroliniana, Alton. 



South- Eastern States of North- America. Porcher regards it as 

 one of the most beautiful and manageable evergreens of the States. 

 It can be cut into any shape, and is much employed for quick and 

 dense hedges. It can be grown on coast-land. 



Prunus cerasifera, Ehrhart. (P. Myrobalanus, Desfontaines,) 



The Cherry-Plumtree. Countries at and near the Caspian Sea. 

 Of rather tall growth. The fruits called also Mirabelles (which 

 name is given to some varieties of P. domestica as well), whence 

 long ago the objectionable designation Myrobalane-Cherry-Plum 

 arose. Among all kindred species it is this one, which flowers 

 earliest, indeed before the development of its leaves, hence its claims 

 for decorative horticulture. Splendid for hedges ; grows vigorously 

 in the poorest soil ; ramification impenetrably dense ; bears almost 

 any extent of clipping; not hurt by exposure to sea-air [Daniels]. 

 The fruit-yield is sometimes astonishingly large. On this and some 

 other cultivated species, see also Koch's Dendrologie, 1869. 



Prunus Cerasus, Linne.* 



The Cherry-tree. Orient, especially in the countries near the 

 Caspian Sea. The name applies strictly only to the species, dis- 

 tinguished by never assuming large dimensions, by emitting suckers, 

 by smoothness of leaves and austerity and acidity of fruit. P. 

 avium (Linne), the sweet-fruited Cherry-tree, seems naturally to 

 extend as far as Middle Europe, and attains a high age, when the 

 stem may acquire a diameter of 4 feet, produces no suckers, and has 

 downy more wrinkled leaves, irrespective of some few other dis- 

 crepancies. It afforded its fruit already to the ancient inhabitants 

 of Switzerland in pre-historic times [Heer, Mortillet], and the tree 

 was cultivated by the early Greeks also, according to historic records 

 [A. de Candolle]. It is hardy in Norway in lat. 66 30' [Schue- 



