646 



THE RUSSIAN APRICOT. 



fers to call it). The leaves ai'e narrower than in 

 the other, with long points and long sharper teeth, 

 and the glands are lacking or are rudimentary. 

 The leaf is thinner than the other, not shining, and 



Fig. I. — Russian Apricot. 



both above and below it is very sparsely hairy. 

 The fruit of this Siberian apricot is small, hard and 

 dry. The leaves of the Russian apricot vary con- 

 siderably in different varieties, but they never 

 assume the characters of Priuiits Sibirica. 



It is undoubtedly a fortunate circumstance that 

 the Russian apricot has been regarded as belonging 

 to the Siberian species. There are those who 

 assume that individuals of the same species cannot 

 differ perceptibly in hardiness, and if it ^ad been 

 known from the first that the Russian apricot is 

 specifically the same as the older and common 

 apricots, our literature would have abounded in 

 statements that it is no hardier than the old sorts. 

 But now that its greater hardiness appears to be 

 admitted, we may reasonably hope to hold this as 

 a proof that environment has much to do with the 

 capability of a plant to endure severe climate. To 

 be sure, there are almost no end of instances in 

 which the same is true, but it is often necessary 

 that a thing be proved to us while we are declaring 

 that it is impossible ! If the Russian apricot pos- 

 sesses no other merit than hardiness, it is still 

 worth keeping, for it is variable and is capable of 

 improvement. L. H. B. 



From Dr. T, H. Hoskins, Ni'ivport, Vt. — I received 

 young trees and specimens of fruit from Mr. Griesa, of 

 Kansas, some six or seven years ago. The trees have 

 grown well, but have been killed back in all winters 

 when the mercury went down to 40°, which is so often 

 in northeastern Vermont, that my apricot trees have not 

 yet set any fruit buds. The trees sent me were seed- 

 lings, and there is an endless variety in the aspect and 



growth of the young trees. Probably not one seedling 

 in fifty is likely to be worthy of cultivation, but when a 

 fruit of sufficiently good quality is obtained, we have 

 advanced one step, and a long one. 



One distinguished merit of the Russian apricot is that 

 it sets its fruit quite as freely, both east and west, as the 

 common plum. It is well-known that along the Atlantic 

 slope our apricot has always been found so shy a bearer 

 as to be practically unknown among our commercial 

 fruits. The Russian apricot, even if not sufficiently 

 iron-clad for northeastern Vermont, may yet furnish a 

 valuable fruit for lower New England and the middle 

 states. In size, the specimens sent to me from Kansas 

 were rather smaller than the Lombard plum. They 

 looked like little peaches, and were eatable ; but in 

 comparison with California apricots, they would proba- 

 bly have been regarded as better adapted to the pig pen. 



These apricots graft or bud readily on our wild plums, 

 and are free growers, though they do not promise to 

 make large trees. There will be no doubt considerable 

 difference in this respect. They are well worth study- 

 ing and experimenting with, but I think nobody has go 

 far beyond the first stages in this work. 



From John Craig, Central Experimental Farm, 

 Ottawa, Canada. — The Russian apricots as a class — and 

 they do not seem to differ much in variety as far as 

 tested here — seem to rank in hardiness with the Lom- 

 bard plum. The trees lost several inches of young 

 wood last winter, and also show evidence of injury to 

 the stem. Alexis and Catherine appear to be most prom- 

 ising. They have good foliage and are vigorous grow- 

 ers. The soil and treatment depend somewhat on the 

 stocks upon which these apricots are worked. They are 

 doing well in many places on sandy loam, which tends 

 to hasten maturing of wood in the autumn. 



In advance of more extended tests, it would not be 

 safe to call them "a valuable acquisition." I do not 

 think they will be grown to any extent in peach growing 



Fig. 2. — Prunus Sibirica. 



districts, and it is questionable if they are sufficiently 

 hardy to do well north of the peach line. They bud 

 and graft readily on the myrobolan and American 



