The Canadian Horticulturist. 135 



round than oval. The color of this is dark green ; the kernel of the stone is 

 sweet or bitter in taste. The cultivated, or improved varieties of Uriuck are a 

 larger fruit, often oblong, leaf lighter, but the kernel of the stone is not always 

 sweet, occasionally it also is bitter. 



It is the general opinion that the best sugar Uriuck grows in Vjerny, being 

 brought there by the Sartes. These are a people of ordinary intelligence, occupy- 

 ing the lovely fruit-growing and kitchen-garden district. They have also very good 

 vegetables, especially melons. The Sartes brought the sugar Uriuck from South 

 Turkestan. It is a variety much resembling that grown in our European gardens. 

 There are also many other varieties of Uriuck, but there is no great difference 

 between them. They are sold under the name of Gargens, where they were 

 raised. In China there are growing several varieties — but chiefly four, two early 

 and small kinds, known as the Kandak Uriuck and Khasake Uriuck, white, and 

 two late, large, very delicate kinds, Pivande Uriuck and Pchar Uriuck (yellow, 

 with rose blush). 



In the outskirts of Vjerny we still meet occasionally with the Black Uriuck 

 (Prunus Armeniaca), which grows at the town of Djargent, situated at farthest 

 border toward China. The trees bear large fruit, almost round and almost 

 entirely brown in color. The stone is not free. In taste, it resembles a plum 

 more than an apricot. 



The people living in the inland use the Uriuck fresh and dry it for winter. 

 The Russian ladies cook the Uriuck green in sugar until the stone is soft, and, 

 in such a state, it is also pleasant to the taste. The Bucharians dry a great 

 quantity of the Uriuck apricots in the sun, and their trade in this article is large. 

 It is brought on the markets from Northern Siberia and from the governments 

 bordering on the Volga. It is possible to buy dried Uriuck even in the market 

 at Moscow. . 



But, as a garden tree about Vjerny and the outskirts, the Uriuck is the favor- 

 ite, on account of its early growth, and its merits for cooking, for which purpose 

 it is largely grown. The wood of the Uriuck is also valuable as a material for 

 wood work. Things made from it are very beautiful, but very heavy. 



With regard to the hardiness, a Russian officer who lives in China, Peter 

 Alexanderovsk, writes, speaking of its hardiness. He says : " In the years 1888 

 and 1889 heavy frosts continued for about two months, from the middle of 

 December until the middle of February Some days it was - 37F., occasionally 

 it was + 5F. to - 2F. In February a south wind blew and the thermometer rose 

 one or two degrees. Afterwards it soon fellto-i3F. Notwithstanding such 

 severe changes, only the old trees of the Uriuck were injured, and this not every- 

 where. Young trees came out all right, just the same as if there had been mild 

 weather. Rich people living inland had no crop, but the poor had every tree 

 full of fruit, and early varieties were very heavily laden. At first view, this is 

 difficult to explain, but the fact is that riches and poverty are measured at China 



