THE APRICOT. 235 



ORNAMENTAL VARIETIES. The Dwarf Double Flowering 

 Almond, (Amygdalus pumila. Lin. Prunus sinensis, of some,) is 

 a beautiful, well-known, low shrub, extremely ornamental in 

 spring, being covered with a profusion of small pink blossoms, 

 very double. 



The Large Double Flowering Almond (A. a grand fleur, N, 

 Duh.) (A. communis pleno,) is a beautiful French variety, with 

 large, nearly white flowers, two inches in diameter. It also 

 bears a good, small, hard-shell Almond. 



CHAPTER X. 



THE APRICOT. 



Armeniaca vulgaris, Dec. Bosacecz, of botanists. 



Abricotier, of the French ; Aprikosenbaum, German ; Albercoco, Italian ; 

 Afoaricoque, Spanish. 



THE Apricot is one of the most beautiful of stone fruit trees, 

 easily known by its glossy heart-shaped foliage, large white 

 blossoms, and smooth-skinned, golden or ruddy fruit. In the 

 fruit garden it is a highly attractive object in early spring, as 

 its charming flowers are the first to expand. It forms a fine 

 spreading tree of about twenty feet in height, and is hardy 

 enough to bear as an open standard south of the 42 of latitude 

 in this country. 



The native countries of this tree are Armenia, Arabia, and 

 the higher regions of central Asia. It is largely cultivated in 

 China and Japan ; and, indeed, according to the accounts of 

 Grosier the mountains west of Pekin are covered with a natural 

 growth of apricots. The names by which it is known in various 

 European countries all seem to be corruptions of the original 

 Arabic term Berkoche. 



USES. A very handsome and delicious dessert fruit, only in- 

 feriour to the peach, ripening about midsummer, after cherries, 

 and before plums, at a season when it is peculiarly acceptable. 

 For preserving in sugar or brandy, for jellies or pastries, it is 

 highly esteemed, and, where it is abundant, an admirable liquor 

 is made from the fruit ; and it is also dried for winter use. In 

 some parts of Germany, the free bearing sorts the Turkey, 

 Orange, and Breda are largely cultivated for this purpose. 



CULTIVATION. This tree is almost always budded on the 

 plum stock (on which in July it takes readily,) as it is found 

 more hardy and durable than upon its own root. Many Ame- 

 rican nurserymen bud the apricot on the peach, but the trees, 

 so produced, are of a very inferiour quality short lived, moro 



