114 FRUIT GARDEN 
produce of fruit. The fruit is produced on shoots of the 
preceding year, and on small close spurs formed on the two- 
year-old wood. The apricot is tree of much stronger 
growth than the peach, and therefore requires more room ; 
this and the peculiarity of the spurs being kept in mind, 
the observations made on the training and pruning of the 
peach may be readily applied to this tree. It requires a 
summer and winter pruning. The former should begin 
early in June, at which period all irregular fore-right and 
useless shoots are to be pinched off; and, shortly after- 
wards, those which remain are to be fastened to the wall, to 
become bearers. At the winter pruning, all worn-out 
branches, and such as are not duly furnished with spurs 
and fruit-buds, are removed. The young bearers are 
moderately pruned at the points, care, however, being taken 
to leave a terminal shoot or leader to each branch. The 
most common error in the pruning of apricots is laying in 
the bearing shoots too thickly. ‘ 
The blossom comes early in spring, but is more hardy 
than that of the peach; the same means of protection, 
when necessary, may be- employed. The fruit often sets 
too numerously; and in this case it is thinned out in June 
and in the beginning of July, the later thinnings being 
used for tarts, for which purpose they are in much request. 
In the south of England, apricots are sometimes trained 
against espalier rails, and occasionally planted as dwarf 
standards; and it is said that in good seasons the fruit 
from such trees is more highly flavored than that from 
walls. In general, however, the protection of a wall is re- 
quired. An east or west aspect is preferred in England, 
the full south being apt to induce mealiness of pulp. In 
Scotland, the late varieties require the best aspect that can 
be afforded. 
