18 
THE TILTON APRICOT 
the grower. The increasing demand for this fruit is causing orchardists to 
plant additional acreage and also to seek new locations where the apricot will 
produce regular and abundant crops. 
Apricots are budded on apricot, myrobolan (plum) and peach roots and on 
this account are planted in a diversity of soils. The apricot root is best adapted 
to heavy loams which are well drained, the myrobolan (plum) root to the 
heavy sub-irrigated soils, and the peach root to the light silt and sandy loca¬ 
tions. On account of their tendency to spread, the trees should be planted 
not less than 20 to 30 feet apart in regular orchard form. Locations must 
be secured which are practically free from danger of heavy late frosts, for the 
apricot, like the almond, is susceptible to damage. The largest apricot section 
in the state is in the Santa Clara valley, yet many suitable locations are found 
in the San Joaquin, Coachella and Simi valleys, and heavy plantings are being 
made each year. 
Before planting, the land should be thoroughly plowed, cultivated and har¬ 
rowed into a loose friable condition. When the trees are set, cut them back 
to 18 inches from the top of the ground, shortening in the side or lateral 
branches to 2 inches. In pruning the first winter after planting, remove all 
branches from the tree to a height of 12 inches and leave from three to five 
main branches to form the head of the tree, and cut these back to 12 inches. 
These limbs should be distributed around the trunk of the tree so as to prevent 
crowding and overlapping as the tree develops. The second winter it should 
receive another heavy pruning, cutting out all new lateral growths, leaving only 
two laterals to each of the framework branches and these should be cut back 
to not more than two feet. The third season two or three shoots should be 
allowed to start and these should be shortened in one-half. In the future prun¬ 
ing of the tree the same system of the multiplication of branches can be carried 
out, but care must be taken not to allow the branches to overlap or too many 
lateral branches left that will crowd and choke the center of the tree. It 
requires severe and systematic pruning the first two years after planting to 
bring it into proper orchard form. 
Apricots usually come into bearing the fourth year after planting, but it 
usually requires from seven to eight years to bring the tree into full bearing. 
This, however, is dependent upon the care, cultivation and pruning given dur¬ 
ing the first four or five years after it is planted. 
Dried apricots command fancy prices from year to year and growers this 
season are receiving good prices for the dried product in the sweat box. Prac¬ 
tically all the varieties ripen their fruits In May and June and the orchardist 
can harvest and dry his crop before other fruits are ready. 
In some localities the entire crop is used for canning purposes. This is par¬ 
ticularly so in the Santa Clara valley. The Libby, McNeil & Libby Co., can¬ 
ning corporation located at Selma in the San Joaquin Valley, canned this sea¬ 
son over 800 tons. We have every reason to believe that the canning of apricots 
will be a great industry in the San Joaquin Valley. 
Prices of Apricot Trees, on Apricot and Peach Roots 
Each 10 100 1000 
1 year . 4 to 6 ft. $ .45 S3.50 $27.50 $250.00 
1 year.3 to 4 ft. .40 3.00 22.50 200.00 
1 year.2 to 3 ft. .35 2.50 18.00 150.00 
Prices of Apricot Trees, on Myrobolan Root 
Each 10 100 1000* 
1 year.4 to 6 ft. $ .50 $3.50 $30.00 $275.00 
1 year.3 to 4 ft. .40 3.00 25.00 225.00 
1 year.2 to 3 ft. .35 2.50 20.00 160.00 
Blenheim Tln s variety is sometimes termed among apricot growers as an 
improved Royal, having all the good bearing qualities of the 
Royal but being of larger size, which is a very important feature in the cutting 
and drying of the fruit as well as for market purposes. The Blenheim is grown 
almost exclusively in the Santa Clara Valley where it is a decided favorite 
among the canners. It is also largely planted in all apricot sections of Cali¬ 
fornia where it has proven itself to be one of the best for drying purposes. 
The tree is a strong grower, heavy bearer and of a spreading habit; bear¬ 
ing heavy foliage which gives ample protection to the fruit, consequently very 
little difficulty is experienced from sunburn. 
The fruit is above medium in size, oval in shape, and of a deep orange color. 
The flesh is a beautiful yellow color, juicy and possesses a very fine flavor. 
We recommend this variety to planters in all apricot sections as it has 
proven to be a money maker wherever planted. Ripens latter part of June. 
