LUTHER BURBANK 



The Apex tree is a much stronger grower than 

 the Rutland, and produces perhaps ten times as 

 much fruit. The fruit is larger and much earlier. 

 It has yellow flesh instead of crimson, making it 

 one of the most valuable market varieties. 



The Apex resembles the apricot very decidedly 

 in form, size, and quality of fruit, while it is more 

 like the plum in foliage, upright growth, produc- 

 tiveness, and smooth-skinned fruit. It thus illus- 

 trates the tendency to segregation of unit charac- 

 ters along Mendelian lines to which reference has 

 been made. 



The Apex is the only plumcot yet introduced 

 which has promise of becoming a standard market 

 variety, though there are others equal or superior 

 to it to follow. Its ability to withstand the require- 

 ments of long shipping have not been thoroughly 

 tested, but its firm flesh and tendency to ripen 

 slowly are strong indications of its value for trans- 

 continental shipment. 



The exact parentage of the Apex is not known. 

 The crosses have been so extensive and compli- 

 cated that a complete record was thought of less 

 value than the production of a fruit that would 

 feed the millions. It is certain, however, that the 

 Apex, like the Rutland, carries blood of the 

 Japanese type of plum combined with that of the 

 apricot. 



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