16 
APRICOTS ARE PROFITABLE 
Transcendent This variety is known among producers of crab apples, as 
well as housewives, as being one of the very best earl} 
autumn varieties. The tree is a vigorous upright grower and comes into bear¬ 
ing at an early age. This together with its heavy bearing qualities makes it 
one of the most profitable for the home orchard. 
The fruit is rather large, flattened at the end, of a golden yellow color, with 
a rich red cheek, and covered with a delicate pale blue bloom when ripe. This 
variety was imported from Russia and bears the reputation of being one of 
the best of the crab apple family. Ripens in September. 
Whitney This variety is deserving of more attention than it has received 
in the past. In addition to its fine fruiting qualities the tree is 
very ornamental in appearance making a handsome specimen. 
The fruit is one of the largest of the crab apple varieties, often averaging 
from \ l / 2 to 2 inches in diameter. The skin is of a smooth, glossy, green color, 
striped and splashed with carmine. The flesh is exceedingly firm, juicy and 
rich. 
The Whitney presents a very fine appearance, when displayed in a fruit 
basket, and it has exceptional value for culinary purposes. When fully ripe 
makes a fine dessert fruit. Ripens in August. 
Yellow Siberian T^* s ^ ree 1S a v ig° rous Upright grower becoming round¬ 
ish with somewhat of a drooping habit. 
The fruit is of a large size, beautiful golden yellow, or amber, in color and 
is borne in clusters. The flesh is a beautiful amber color, juicy, sub-acid and 
highly prized for the making of preserves and jellies. 
On account of the high quality and the attractive appearance of this variety 
we believe every family orchard should contain one or more of these trees. 
Ripens in September. 
APRICOTS 
California has the distinction of producing the largest quantity of apricots 
of any region in the world. Our exports to foreign countries, especially to 
Europe, has made California famous as an apricot producing section. The 
crop is principally dried and canned, although large shipments of the fresh 
fruit are made yearly to the Eastern markets with very satisfactory returns to 
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) roots to the 
heavy sub-irrigated soils, and the peach roots to the light silt and sandy loca¬ 
tions. On account of their tendency to spread, the trees should be planted 
not less than 24 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. 
