1084 



PRACTICAL GUIDE TO GABDEN PLANTS apbicot 



the shoots may be pinched back to two 

 or three leaves. This induces them to 

 -develop fruit spurs later on. 



The illustration 

 (fig. 158) shows 

 twigs with fruit-buds 

 and leaf -buds, which 

 may be compared 

 with that of the 

 Peach and Nec- 

 tarine (fig. 157, 

 p. 1079). It will be 

 noticed that there 

 is a plump fruit (or 

 flower) bud (/) at 

 each side of the thin 

 wood-bud (w). 



In regard to 

 planting, syrmging, 

 pruning, thinning 

 the fruit &c., the 

 methods are practi- 

 cally the same as 

 for Peaches and 

 Nectarines, and the 

 reader is advised to 

 consult pp. 1079, 

 1080 for this infor- 

 mation. It may, 

 however, be added 

 that after planting 

 the soil should be 

 very firmly packed round the base of the 

 stem and over the roots, as they particu- 

 larly like a very solid soil. 



Vaeibties of Apbicots 



These are comparatively few. Those 

 •described below will give the best general 

 results for open-air cultivation in the 

 British Islands. 



Breda. — A good Apricot, perhaps not 

 so highly flavoured as others, but vinous 

 and agreeable. Fruit small, roundish, 

 flattened at the sides, deep orange -yellow, 

 flushed with red, and dotted with brovm 

 and red on the sunny side. 



The tree is a good grower and cropper, 

 and ripens its fruit on walls about the 

 middle of August. It is the only variety 

 that can be grown with any degree of 

 success as a standard in the favoured 

 parts of the south, but the fruits are then 

 .a couple of weeks later in ripening. 



Hemskerk. — A rich and juicy Apricot, 

 ripe at the end of July. Fruit rather 

 large, roundish, yellow, flushed with red 

 on the sunny side. The tree is hardy, 



PIG. 158. — APRICOT. 



and bears abundantly. It may be grown 

 in preference to the well-known Moor- 

 park (of which it is a variety), as this 

 often gives a good deal of dissatisfaction 

 on account of its gumming properties and 

 unequal ripening. 



Kaisha. — An excellent and richly 

 flavoured Apricot, ripe in the middle of 

 August. Fruit medium, roundish, pale 

 lemon-yellow, washed and mottled with 

 red on the sunny side. Suitable for pre- 

 serving. The tree is hardy and a great 

 bearer. 



Musch Musch. — A sweet and delici- 

 ously flavoured Apricot, ripe at the end 

 of July. Fruit small, roundish, deep and 

 pale orange-yeUow, flushed with red on 

 the sunny side. Suitable for preserving. 

 The tree grows freely, but requires par- 

 ticularly warm and sheltered situations to 

 come to perfection. 



New Large Early. — A highly flavoured 

 Apricot ripe early in July. Fruit rather 

 large, oval, whitish, sometimes dotted and 

 faintly flushed with red on the sunny 

 side. This variety is valuable on account 

 of its earliness. 



Oullins' Early Peach. — A delieiously 

 flavoured Apricot, ripe at the end of July. 

 Fruit large, yellow, flushed with red on 

 the sunny side. 



The tree is a good grower and a heavy 

 cropper. 



Peach (or Gros PSche). — This is one 

 of the best and most delieiously flavoured 

 Apricots, ripe at the end of August. 

 Fruit large, oval, flattened, pale yellow, 

 faintly flushed with red on the sunny 

 side. 



The tree is vigorous and a very heavy 

 cropper. 



Powell's Late. — A handsome rich and 

 juicy Apricot, ripe from the middle of 

 September. Fruit large, highly coloured, 

 especially on the srniny side. 



This is a very hardy variety, and prob- 

 ably the latest Apricot grown. 



Royal. — Afirst-elass Apricot, ripe early 

 in August. Fruit large, oval, sUghtly 

 flattened, dull yellow, flushed vyith red on 

 the sunny side. 



The tree is a heavy cropper. 



St. Ambroise. — A fine, juicy, and 

 agreeably flavoured Apricot, ripe in the 

 middle of August. Fruit large and some- 

 what pointed, deep yellow, washed with 

 red next the sun. 



This and Peach are probably two of 

 the most prolific Apricots grown. 



