LUTHER BURBANK 



acteristic of the tree — the extreme sensitiveness of 

 its blossoms to the slightest fall in temperature. 



The apricot tree itself under proper conditions 

 is relatively hardy and extremely productive. It 

 is long-lived, and it attains great size. Moreover, 

 it sends out a very extensive root system; demand- 

 ing plenty of room, and justifying the demand by 

 its increased production when the trees are not 

 crowded. It continues to grow for many years, 

 constantly extending its root system; so that some 

 orchardists recommend planting the trees origi- 

 nally twenty feet apart and then, after a number 

 of years, as the trees increase in size, removing 

 every other one, thus securing a forty foot space 

 for the roots of each tree. 



In the matter of pests that attack it, the apricot 

 is relatively favored. It is on the whole a very 

 healthy and vigorous, as well as very beautiful 

 tree. 



But the sensitiveness of its blossoms to the 

 slightest chill has hitherto put a restriction upon 

 the spread of the tree beyond the sub-tropical 

 zones, except in such a territory as that of Cali- 

 fornia, where, because of exceptional topograph- 

 ical conditions, a sub-tropical climate prevails 

 even at relatively high latitudes. There are ex- 

 tensive areas of the middle and eastern states, well 

 toward the north, where the apricot tree may be 



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