22 HISTORY OF FRUITS. 



Dr. Turner, who wrote his Herbal soon after the intro- 

 duction of this tree into the English garden, calls it abrt- 

 cok. Gerarde, in 1597, writes it abrecoke, aprecock, and 

 aprecox. 



The apricot was, however, long considered, and in most 

 botanical works stated, to be a native of Epirus ; and the 

 name of pruneus Armeniaca having been given to it in 

 mistake, and which unquestionably belonged to another 

 fruit, it has been transmitted down from one author to 

 another, without particular enquiry. Theophrastus, one 

 of the oldest authors, never mentions the apricot-tree as 

 being cultivated in Greece, at the time when he lived : 

 on the contrary, he alludes to it as an exotic, from an 

 account transmitted to him. He also mentions the almond, 

 as being the only tree in his country which produced the 

 flowers before the leaves. (Theoph. Hist. Plant, lib. vii. 

 c. 12.) 



Columella is the oldest Roman author who has men- 

 tioned the tree that has been considered the apricot. He 

 writes, that at the end of January we may graft the cher- 

 ry-tree, the Armenian plum, the nectarine, the almond, 

 the peach-tree, and others which blossom early. 



Pliny also mentions the Armenian plum; and says 

 there is a plum brought from a foreign nation, which is 

 called Armeniaca, and is desirable for its smell. This 

 great naturalist has particularly mentioned the apricot, as 

 distinct from the Armenian plum : he states that it was 

 not known above thirty years before he wrote the ac- 

 count; which would make its introduction into Italy 

 about the sixtieth year of the Christian era. Pliny says, 

 " at its first coming, each sold for a Roman denier :" 

 he adds, " this fruit is harmless, and is in such request 

 among invalids, that thirty sesterces are given for one 

 of them, which is as great a price *s is given for any 



