LUTHER BURBANK 



acteristic of the tree the extreme sensitiveness of 

 its blossoms to the slightest fall in temperature. 



The apricot tree itself under proper conditions 

 is relatively hardy and extremely productive. It 

 is long-lived, and it attains great size. Moreover, 

 it sends out a very extensive root system; demand- 

 ing plenty of room, and justifying the demand by 

 its increased production when the trees are not 

 crowded. It continues to grow for many years, 

 constantly extending its root system; so that some 

 orchardists recommend planting the trees origi- 

 nally twenty feet apart and then, after a number 

 of years, as the trees increase in size, removing 

 every other one, thus securing a forty foot space 

 for the roots of each tree. 



In the matter of pests that attack it, the apricot 

 is relatively favored. It is on the whole a very 

 healthy and vigorous, as well as very beautiful 

 tree. 



But the sensitiveness of its blossoms to the 

 slightest chill has hitherto put a restriction upon 

 the spread of the tree beyond the sub-tropical 

 zones, except in such a territory as that of Cali- 

 fornia, where, because of exceptional topograph- 

 ical conditions, a sub-tropical climate prevails 

 even at relatively high latitudes. There are ex- 

 tensive areas of the middle and eastern states, well 

 toward the north, where the apricot tree may be 



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