APRICOTS. 131 



Abricot gros d' Alexandria, in Provence. Ib. 



Fruit middle-sized, about two inches and a quarter 

 long and two inches in diameter, somewhat oblong, 

 compressed, projecting considerably on the side of the 

 suture, which is deep, and terminates in a projecting 

 point situated towards the back, beyond the axis of the 

 fruit ; back nearly straight. Skin downy, of a fine 

 bright orange, and next the sun with spots of deeper 

 red, pale orange on the other side. Flesh parting from 

 the stone, orange-coloured, juicy, rich. Stone brown, 

 much flattened, oval, sharp in the front, perforated along 

 the back from the base to the apex. Kernel bitter. 



Ripe ten days or a fortnight earlier than the Roman. 

 In France it ripens on Midsummer-day, whence its name 

 of A. de St. Jean. 



6. MOORPARK. Hooker, Pom. Lond. t. 9. 



Anson's, l 



Temple's, I of different Collections. 



Dunmore's Breda, J 



Fruit large, of a roundish figure, about seven inches 

 and a half in circumference each way, deeply hollowed 

 at the base, and compressed on its sides, one of which is 

 swelled considerably more than the other at the suture, 

 which gives it an oblique appearance. Skin pale yellow 

 on the shaded side, but of a deep orange colour, shaded 

 and marbled with brownish red on the side next the sun, 

 and full of dark specks. Flesh very firm, bright orange, 

 separating clean from the stone. Juice plentiful and 

 excellent. Stone rather rugged, with a pervious pas- 

 sage, containing a bitter kernel. 



Ripe the end of August and beginning of September. 



The Moorpark Apricot, now so universally known 

 throughout England, is said to have been brought into 

 this country by Sir William Temple, and planted in his 

 garden at Moorpark : if so, it must have been an inha- 



K 2 



