Localities for the Apricot. 201 
and trees are said to be at best age for fruit bearing between ten 
and fifty years. Intelligent treatment of the trees to secure 
growth of new wood, which will be mentioned presently, seems 
to give it almost indefinite productiveness, 
The apricot is a rapid grower and an early and heavy bearer 
in California. In the interior and in the southern coast valleys 
it yields a paying crop during its third summer in the orchard, 
and from eight to fourteen tons to the acre has been reached 
for several years in succession, in Judge Blackwood’s old orch- 
ard of Royal apricots, in Alameda County. The trees, even of 
some varieties which are uncertain bearers, are large and vigor- 
ous growers, and have warranted the suggestion that there is a 
use for the apricot tree for a windbreak for the protection of 
other trees. The trees may be planted near together in strong 
land and make a windbreak that will pay its way without regard 
to such fruit as it may incidentally produce. 
LOCALITIES FOR THE APRICOT. 
In speaking cf localities for the apricot, reference is, of 
course, only made to its growth as a standard orchard tree with- 
out protection of any kind. It shows even in California that it 
does not forget the conditions which destroy its thrift elsewhere, 
for late frosts in our upper coast counties render it, as a rule, 
unprofitable; and Lake County, just back from the coast, can not 
be commended for the apricot, except in protected situations. 
It is also sensitive to too great elevation on the foot-hills of the 
Sierra Nevada, theugh it thrives in the lower foot-hills. In the 
depressions of the great interior valleys the crop is often lost by 
frost. In the small valleys, apricots usually do better on the 
hillsides than cn the floors of the valleys, because there is less 
frost at the slight elevations. 
It is often claimed that situations directly subject to ocean 
influences are best for the apricot. It is noted by many ob- 
servers that the apricot “points its best branches to the ocean, 
in the very teeth of the constant breeze, and the landward limbs 
and twigs bend up and endeavor to reach in the same direction. 
‘This is patent in every tree, and in the long orchard rows is very 
striking.”’* This is taken to signify the special liking of the tree 
for the vicinity of the coast. It is well enough to interpret it that 
way, providing one does not lose sight of the perfect success ot 
the apricot in the interior as well. It is true that the fruit near 
the coast attains higher color, and the less rapid growth of the 
tree makes it somewhat easier to handle, but the earlier ripening 
in the interior, coupled with freedom from fog and constant 
sunshine for drying, are points of the highest industrial import- 
*S, R. Thorpe, of San Buena Ventura. 
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