1855. 



NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 



433 



THE PEACH APRICOT. 



The delineation cabove is from a sj)ecimen gath- 

 ered in our garden about the tenth of August. The 

 largest sample of the fruit is about four inches 

 in circumference, roundish, rather flattened, and 

 somewhat compressed on its sides, with a well- 

 marked suture. Skin yellow in the shade, but deep 

 orange, mottled with dark brown, on the sunny side. 

 Flesh of a fine yellow saffron color, juicy, ricli and 

 high-flavored. Downing says : 



"The apricot is one of the most beautiful of stone 

 fruit trees, easily kno^vn by its glossy heart-shaped 

 foliage, large white blossoms, and smooth-skinned, 

 golden or ruddy fruit. In the fruit garden it is a 

 highly attractive object in early s])ring, as its charm- 

 ing flowers are the first to ex])and. It forms a finej 

 spreading tree of about twenty feet in height, and 

 is hardy enough to bear as an open standard south 

 of the 42'' of latitude of this country. | 



Uses. — A very handsome and dcHcious dessert 

 fruit, only inferior to the peach, ripening about mid- 

 sumrper, after cherries, and before plums, at a sea- 

 son when it is peculiarly acce])tixble. For preserv- 

 ing in sugar or brandy, for jellies, or pastries, it is 

 highly esteemed, and, where it is abundant, an ad- 

 mirable liqueur is made from the fruit ; and it is 

 also dried for winter use. 



Cultivation. — This tree is almost always bud- 

 ded on the plum stock (on which in July it takes 

 readily,) as it is found more hardy and durable than 

 uj)on its own root. Many American nui"serymen 

 bud the ajmcot on the peach, but the trees, so i)ro- 

 duced, are of a very inferior quality — short lived, 

 more liable to diseases, and the fruit of a second- 

 rate flavor. Budded on the plum, they are well 

 adapted to strong soils, in which they always hold 

 thcii' fruit better than in light sandy soils. 



