484 GARDENING FOR THE SOUTH. 



for the peach. The apricot is generally budded on the 

 plum stock; it is sometimes propagated on its own root, 

 and also upon the peach. The plum is the hardier stock, 

 and makes the better tree. It may be root-grafted on the 

 Chickasaw plum. Those propagated by seed are usually 

 very hardy and productive. On the peach stock, the tree 

 is liable to be destroyed by the borer, and the fruit is 

 inferior. 



Apricots are apt to bloom so early in the spring that it 

 is best to plant them in a northern exposure, where they 

 will be retarded in blooming; by the side of a building 

 there is less danger of frost. It is just as necessary to 

 shorten in the young branches of the apricot as those of 

 the peach. 



The best soil is a deep loam; cultivate and manure the 

 same as the peach. The hardiest apricots are the Dubois, 

 Early Golden, Orange, and Breda. 



Dubois ok Early Golden. — Fruit small, roundish 

 oval; pale orange color, moderately juicy, sweet and 

 good; very productive and hardy. Ripens June 10th. 



Large Early. — Fruit medium size, oblong and com- 

 pressed; suture deep; skin slightly downy, pale orange 

 in the shade, ruddy in the sun; flesh yellow, and separates 

 from the stone, rich and juicy; kernel bitter. Ripens 

 June 10th. 



Orange. — Fruit medium, roundish, with suture hol- 

 lowed at the stalk; skin orange, with a ruddy tinge; flesh 

 dark orange, rather dry, and somewhat adhesive to the 

 stone, which is small and roundish; kernel sweet; not first 

 rate, but good for pies and tarts, preserving or drying; 

 a good bearer. Ripens June 10th. 



Peach. — Fruit very large, roundish; sides compressed, 

 and with a distinct suture; skin yellow, but deep orange, 

 mottled with brown, in the sun; flesh deep yellow, rich 

 and delicious; the best variety in cultivation; stone 

 rough. Ripens last of June. 



