APE 



[63] 



APE 



and the foundation of canker in full- 

 grown trees is often laid by the larvae of 

 Temaisa Wceberana. The sap, too, is 

 often injuriously drawn off by a minute 

 coccus, of which the female has the exact 

 shape of a muscle-shell (Coccus Arborum 

 linear is), and which Eeaumur has ac- 

 curately described and figured. But the 

 greatest enemy of this tree, and which 

 has been known in this country since the 

 year 1787, is the apple-aphis, called by 

 some the coccus, and by others the Ame- 

 rican blight. See AMERICAN BLIGHT, 

 BLIGHT, YPONOMENTA, ANTHONYMTJS, 

 COCCUS, PSYLLA, BoSTRICHUS, SCOLYTUS, 

 and ACARUS. 



APRICOT. (Armeniaca vulgaris). 



VARIETIES : 



1. Early Masculine. End of July. The 

 best of the very early apricots. Fruit 

 rather small, round, and of a yellowish 

 colour, tinted with red on one side. 



2. Large Early, or Precoce. Eipens next 

 in order. An oblong fruit, of a palish 

 orange colour, with a very agreeable 

 juice. 



3. Blenheim, or Shipley's. One of the 

 most useful apricots in the kingdom ; 

 for, although inferior in flavour to the 

 Moorpark, it is a much greater bearer 

 and a sure ripener. An oval fruit, 

 middle-sized, and of a palish lemon 

 colour. This kind is allied to the 

 Moorpark ; possibly a seedling from it. 



4. Hcmskirke. Another of the Moor- 

 park section ; somewhat earlier. This 

 also ripens safer than the Moorpark, 

 and such is a weighty consideration 

 with northern horticulturists. A 

 roundish fruit, somewhat flattened at 

 the crown ; colour, orange and red. 



5. Breda. A well-known preserving 

 fruit, and most eligible for growing as 

 an ordinary standard, in our southern 

 counties ; or on any trellis device. 

 Called " Brussels" by some. A small 

 fruit, generally of a cramped or angled 

 appearance ; of an orange colour, and 

 rich flavoured. 



6. Royal. A good fruit, of very rich 

 flavour, ripening just a little before 

 the Moorpark. Of a large size, oval, 

 and of an orange complexion. 



7. Moorpark. The first apricot in the 

 kingdom, taken altogether. A full 

 sized roundish fruit, ripening about 



middle season ; flavour first rate. No 



garden of any pretensions is complete 



without a Moorpark or two. 



These are all that are truly essential 

 either to the amateur or the cottager. 

 For the amateur who, in a small garden, 

 has room for three only, and those dis- 

 tinct kinds, we recommend Nos. 3, 5, and 

 7. If four, then take Nos. 1, 3, 5, 7. If 

 five, then Nos. 1, 3, 5, 6, 7. For cot- 

 tagers, we say Nos. 3 and 7. Above all, 

 we would recommend the " Shipley's" to 

 the cottager, as being a hardier and a 

 larger tree, and a much surer bearer. 

 Besides the above there are the Black, 

 the Large Early, the Musch-Musch, very 

 sweet, of the Breda section ; the Orange, 

 fitter for preserving than dessert, a good 

 bearer ; the Eoman, another good bearer; 

 the Turkey, a useful late variety ; the 

 Haisha, a Syrian kind, delicious, and 

 possessing a sweet kernel. 



Choice of Trees. Those who have to 

 select, whether from stock of their own, 

 or from the nursery, should first see 

 that the junction between the stock and 

 the scion is complete and thoroughly 

 healed. If any gum or other exudation 

 appear on any stem, by all means reject 

 the tree as to present use. 



Two or three years trained trees are 

 the most eligible, and such should pos- 

 sess at least two branches on either side, 

 and a central one if possible. Care 

 should be taken to select those in which 

 the side branches are of about equal 

 thickness, 



Propagation is best done by budding : 

 some choose the Apricot stock or those 

 from the kernels; others prefer the 

 Plum stock : the latter, however, has 

 been much complained of in late years. 

 Our nurserymen have what is termed a 

 " commoner" stock, which appears to be 

 a sort of wild Plum, and which in gene- 

 ral answers pretty well. 



For dwarfs, bud at eight inches from 

 the soil ; for half standards, at three feet; 

 and, for standards, at about five feet. 



Period of Planting. Those who wish 

 to gain time, may plant successfully in 

 the first or second week of October : any 

 time, however, from that period until the 

 early part of March will do. 



Soil. A good sound and rather unctu- 

 ous loam is best, using a little ordinary 



