THE APRICOT. 
235 
Ornamental Varieties. The Dwarf Double Flowering 
Almond , (Amygdalus pumila. Lin. Prunus sinensis, of some,) is 
a beautiful, well-known, low shrub, extremely ornamental in 
spring, being covered with a profusion of small pink blossoms, 
very double. 
The Large Double Flowering Almond (A. d grand jleur, iV 
Duh.) [A. communis pleno,) is a beautiful French variety, with 
large, nearly white flowers, two inches in diameter. It also 
bears a good, small, hard-shell Almond. 
CHAPTER X. 
THE APRICOT. 
Armeniaca vulgaris , Dec. Rosacea , of botanists. 
Abricotier , of the French; Aprikosenbaum, German; Albercoco, Italian; 
Albaricoque , Spanish. 
The Apricot is one of the most beautiful of stone fruit trees, 
easily known by its glossy heart-shaped foliage, large white 
blossoms, and smooth-skinned, golden or ruddy fruit. In the 
fruit garden it is a highly attractive object in early spring, as 
its charming flowers are the first to expand. It forms a fine 
spreading tree of about twenty feet in height, and is hardy 
enough to bear as an open standard south of the 42° of latitude 
in this country. 
The native countries of this tree are Armenia, Arabia, and 
the higher regions of central Asia. It is largely cultivated in 
China and Japan ; and, indeed, according to the accounts of 
Grosier the mountains west of Pekin are covered with a natural 
growth of apricots. The names by which it is known in various 
European countries all seem to be corruptions of the original 
Arabic term Berkoche. 
Uses. A very handsome and delicious dessert fruit, only in- 
feriour to the peach, ripening about midsummer, after cherries, 
and before plums, at a season when if is peculiarly acceptable. 
For preserving in sugar or brandy, for jellies or pastries, it is 
highly esteemed, and, where it is abundant, an admirable liquor 
is made from the fruit ; and it is also dried for winter use. In 
some parts of Germany, the free bearing sorts — the Turkey, 
Orange, and Breda — are largely cultivated for this purpose. 
Cultivation. This tree is almost always budded on the 
plum stock (on which in July it takes readily,) as it is found 
more hardy and durable than upon its own root. — Many Ame- 
rican nurserymen bud the apricot on the peach, but the trees, 
bo produced, are of a very inferiour quality — short lived, more 
