546 
caterpillars, which are shunned by most 
birds. 
H. A. GOSSARD. 
Wooster, Ohio. 
Apricot 
The apricot is related to the peach, 
plum, almond, nectarine, cherry and 
prune. It is generally believed to have 
been a cross between the peach and the 
plum; but this has been disputed on the 
ground that it grows wild in Africa and 
the Caucasus mountains. In some parts 
of the Caucasus mountains the hills and 
mountainsides are covered with apricot 
trees, and in China also it grew wild at 
an early date. Its origin is, therefore, in- 
volved in mystery, and perhaps with our 
present information, cannot be definitely 
settled. 
In growth, habit and the soil to which 
it is adapted, it is much like the peach; 
matures its fruit about the same time; 
the tree is not quite so tall; blooms a few 
days earlier, and is a little more likely 
to be killed by frost. In shape and color 
it resembles the peach; but in texture and 
the smoothness of its skin, it is more like 
the prune and plum. The bark of the 
tree is similar to that of certain varieties 
of cherry; its leaves are heart-shaped, 
bright green and yellow. It requires 
about the same kind of soil and cultiva- 
tion as the peach, which see. 
The apricot is regarded as a tenderer 
fruit than the peach, but this is doubtless 
due to the fact that it blooms earlier. 
It is not so profitable commercially. For 
this reason growers have not made such 
efforts to produce late blooming varieties. 
The peach is larger, has more varieties 
of flavor, therefore brings a better price 
in the markets, yet apricots are appre- 
ciated for canning purposes. 
California produces more apricots than 
any other state in the Union. The apricot 
was introduced into California, by the 
Mission Fathers, where it was found in 
the Santa Clara valley in 1792. The vari- 
eties found there were not of high grade, 
generally seedlings, and much inferior to 
those introduced later by gold seekers 
from England and France in 1850 to 1860. 
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF PRACTICAL HORTICULTURE 
The Soil Best Adapted 
The apricot will stand moe humus, or 
a stronger soil than the peach. In the 
article on the peach it has been observeg 
that this fruit will not endure a soil very 
rich in barnyard manure or other fertil- 
izers. In the growing of cover crops in 
the orchards, it has been discovered that 
the peach is injured by a quantity of 
nitrogen and humus, that will give health 
and vigor to apples and pears. The apri- 
cot will stand more of these fertilizers 
than the peach, but like the peach, it re. 
quires a light dry soil, and a mixture of 
sand and gravel is beneficial. 
The root system is not particularly 
strong, therefore, the soil should be loose 
and deep enough so that the roots will 
penetrate it without the energy necessary 
to break it up. It requires less water 
than apples and pears, and, therefore, the 
water should not be allowed to stand on 
the ground, or the soil to water-log. What 
we have said applies mostly to the im- 
proved varieties, rather than to the seed- 
lings which grow with great vigor, and 
have great resisting power. These seed- 
lings have sometimes a fruit of fine flavor, 
but very small as compared with the 
Moorpark or other improved varieties. In 
this, the apricot follows a general rule, 
for it is true of peaches, apples and other 
fruits that the trees which are the most 
hardy and resistant to injuries generally 
produce the poorest fruits. 
Apricot trees are produced by budding 
on peach or apricot seedlings during the 
first summer’s growth in the nursery row. 
These seedlings are produced either from 
peach or apricot seeds, planted during 
the preceding winter. As to the method 
of planting, see article on the peach. The 
tree iS a vigorous grower, and must be 
carefully pruned to shape the top and to 
prevent the dwarfing of the fruit by an 
extra heavy crop. This method of prun- 
ing will also lessen the work of hand 
thinning. However, where the fruit is so 
close that the apricots crowd each other, 
hand thinning is necessary to the produc- 
tion of the largest and most profitable 
commercial grades. It is better to have a 
certain quantity, say 100 pounds or four 
