SINO-MONGOLIAN FRONTIER 
(13 lb.) apiece. In Shansi some small green 
peaches of an exquisite flavour are cultivated. 
There is another variety with deep crimson-coloured 
flesh. 
Recent experiments carried out in America show 
that the Peaches introduced from China do far 
better than those from Europe. This fact is 
believed to be due to the greater drought-resisting 
qualities of the Chinese plants. 
The Wild Apricot (Prunus armeniaca) also flour- 
ishes in the mountains of North China. Unlike 
that of the Wild Peach, the fruit is soft, sweet and 
juicy. It grows into a good-sized tree, in which 
characteristic it again differs from the Wild Peach. 
The Apricot is extensively cultivated by the 
Chinese, and many large and delicious varieties 
are grown. The fruit is dried for winter use, 
while the kernels are exported under the name of 
Almonds. In the mountains of Shansi the natives 
extract oil from the kernels, which they use in 
their lamps. 
The Wild Plum (Prunus sp.), already referred 
to in an earlier chapter as the blackthorn, occurs, 
though somewhat rarely, in the mountains of 
Shansi. It sometimes attains the size of a large 
shrub. The fruit is small, black and very sour. 
There are several varieties of cultivated Plums, a 
small purple one being the most common. Large 
yellow plums may also be bought occasionally. 
In North China only two varieties of Cherries 
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