442 



THE BERBERRY. 



in all respects, except that it has in the centre of each leaf a large yel- 

 lowish spot. It is a thrifty tree and bears delicate fruit. Ours is not 

 identical with the Turkey, as the last edition of the L. H. S.'s Cata- 

 logue arranges it, but is a globular fruit, and a true variation of the 

 Turkey. 



White Masculine. 



White Apricot. Early White Masculine. 



Abricot Blanc. Blanc. 

 Abricotier Blanc. White Algiers ? 



This scarcely differs from the Red Masculine before described, except 

 in color. It is four or five days later. 



Fruit small and roundish. Skin nearly white, rarely with a little 

 reddish brown on one side. Flesh white, delicate, a little fibrous, ad- 

 heres a little to the stone, and has a delicate, pleasant juice. Kernel 

 bitter. 



Curious or ornamental varieties. The Brian£ON Apricot (A. 

 brigantiaca, Dec), a very distinct species, so much resembling a plum as 

 to be called the JBriangon Plum by many authors {Prune de JBrianpon, 

 Poit.), is a small irregular tree or shrub, ten or twelve feet high, a native 

 of the Alps. It bears a great abundance of small, round, yellow, plum- 

 like fruit in clusters, which are scarcely eatable ; but in France and 

 Piedmont the kernels of this variety make the " huile de marmotte," 

 which is worth double the price of the olive oil. 



The Double flowering Apricot is a pretty ornamental tree, yet 

 rare with us. 



Selection of Apricots for a small garden. Large Early, Breda, 

 Peach, Moorpark. 



Selection for a cold or northern climate. Red Masculine, Roman, 

 Breda. 



CHAPTER XII. 



THE BERBERRY. 



Barberis vulgaris, L. Berberacem, of botanists. 

 Epine-vinette, of the French ; Berberitzen, German ; Berbero, Italian ; Berberis, 



Spanish. 



The Berberry (or barberry) is a common prickly shrub, from eight 

 to ten feet high, which grows wild in both hemispheres, and is par- 

 ticularly abundant in many parts of New England. The flowers, the 

 roots, and the inner wood are of the brightest yellow color, and the 

 small crimson fruit is borne in clusters. It is a popular but fallacious 

 notion, entertained both here and in England, that the vicinity of this 

 plant, in any quantity, to grain fields, causes the rust. 



The barberry is too acid to eat, but it makes an agreeable preserve 



