APRICOTS. 178 



insipid, and quite worthless to eat. Stone, small, impervious on the 

 back. Kernel, bitter. 



Eipe in the beginning of August. The tree grows from ten to 

 fifteen feet high, and is more fitted for an ornamental than a firuit'-tree. 



Blanc. See White Masculine. 



Blenheim. See Shipley's, 



BEEDA (Amande Aveline ; Aveline ; Ananas ; De Hollande ; Has- 

 selnussmandel ; Noisette). — Fruit, below medium size or small, roundish, 

 compressed on the sides, in some cases so much as to be of a four- 

 sided shape ; divided on one side by a deep suture, which extends 

 firom the base to the apex, where it terminates in a depression. Skin, 

 deep orange on the shaded side, but deep dull reddish orange dotted 

 with brown and red dots on the side next the sun. Stalk, deeply 

 inserted in a narrow cavity. Flesh, deep orange, tender, juicy, rich 

 and highly flavoured, separating freely from the stone. Stone, small, 

 smooth, and more round than that of any other variety, and without any 

 pervious channel on the back. Kernel, sweet, like that of a hazel»nut. 



An excellent early apricot, ripe on walls from the beginning to the 

 middle of August; but on standards which bear well in sheltered 

 situations it does not ripen till September» The tree is a good grower, 

 with pretty strong shoots. 



There is a diversity of opiaion sUnong pomologists as to what is the true Breda 

 Apricot. It is evident that the variety here described is not the Breda of Miller 

 and other authors of the last century ; nor is it that which is still grown in nur- 

 series at the present time, for both Boman and Brussels are to be found under the 

 name of Breda. Knoop says the Breda Apricot is large, and sometimes larger than 

 the Bois-le-Duc, which is the largest of all apricots. It cannot, therefore, be the 

 same as this. In the Horticultural Tour of the Committee of the Caledoniiin 

 Horticultural Society it is stated, when treating of the horticulture of Breda, " The 

 Breda Apricot is well known and highly esteemed in Scotland, both on account of 

 its large size and fine flavour, &c" The only conclusion I can come to there- 

 fore is, that the large apricot described by Miller, and which was cultivated in the 

 gardens of this country for Breda, was either the Brussels or Orange. The 

 Abricot de Hollande which I now describe has long been cultivated as the true 

 Breda. 



Brown Masculine. See Bed Masculine. 



BEUSSELS. — Fruit, medium sized, rather oval, flattened on the 

 sides, marked with a suture, which is deep at the base, but diminishes 

 at the apex. Skin, pale yellow, dotted with white on the shaded side, 

 but red, interspersed with dark spots, next the sun. Flesh, yellow, 

 firm, brisk flavoured, and separating freely from the stone. Stone, 

 small, impervious on the back. Kernel, bitter. 



A good hardy variety, ripe in the middle of August) but the fruit 

 must not be allowed to become too ripe, as it is then pasty. 



The tree is a free grower and an excellent bearer. It is the best to 

 cultivate as a standard, and in favourable situations it produces fruit 

 of finer fiavour than when grown against a wall; but then it is a 

 fortnight later. 



