116 FRUIT GARDEN. 



bearers. At the winter pruning, all worn-out brandies, 

 and such as are not duly furnished with spurs and fruit- 

 buds, are removed. The young bearers are moderately 

 pruned at the points, care, however, being taken to leave 

 a terminal shoot or leader to each branch. The most 

 common error in the pruning of apricots is laying In 

 the bearing shoots too thickly. 



The blossom comes early in spring, but is more hardy 

 than that of the peach ; the same means of protection, 

 when n-ecessary, may be employed. The fruit often 

 sets too numerously ; and in this case it is thinned out 

 in June and in the beginning of July, the later thin- 

 nings being used for tarts, for which purpose they are 

 in much request. In the south of England, apricots 

 are sometimes trained against espalier rails, and occa- 

 sionally planted as dwarf standards ; and it is said that 

 in good seasons the fruit from such trees is more highly 

 flavored than that from walls. In general, however, 

 the protection of a wall is required. An east or West 

 aspect is preferred in England, the full south being apt 

 to induce mealiness of pulp. In Scotland, the late va- 

 rieties require the best aspect that can be afforded. 



This fruit ripens several weeks earlier than the 

 peach to which it is allied. The National Convention 

 of Fruit-growers, in New York, 1849, adopted unani- 

 mously as of the first quality known in the United 

 States, the following varieties, viz : The Large Early, 

 Breda, and Moorpark. The kind known as the peach 

 apricot was pronounced identical with the Moorpark. 



The tendency of .this tree to put out its flowers very 

 early in the season, and much before the Almond and 

 Peach, subjects its fruit to great risk from nipping 



