SEED-VESSELS WE EAT 217 



and South Africa. Italian apricots are among 

 the finest. There are many varieties. Dried 

 apricots are an important export from northern 

 India to Thibet and the provinces of western 

 China. In the oases of upper Egypt a variety 

 with sweet kernels is raised. Here the dried flesh, 

 and the nuts are both articles of commerce, and 

 staple foods of the people. The name of this fruit 

 is "Musch-Musch." 



CHERRIES 



Four wild species of cherry grow in the woods of 

 America, and not one has yet shown any disposi- 

 tion to become large and sweet, like the cherries 

 of our gardens and orchards. We grow sour 

 cherries for pies, and sweet cherries that are 

 delicious to eat fresh out of hand. The two types 

 are distinct, and both originated in wild species 

 that still grow in different parts of Asia Minor, 

 Persia, and the north of Africa. It is strange, 

 but true that European cherries grow well with 

 us where European plums fail, and our native 

 cherries fail to fill the breach, as our native plums 

 have done. 



The Japanese cherries are highly cultivated 

 varieties, but the blossom, not the fruit, has been 



