Apricot trees are generally placed against an east or a west wall ; the heat of a full south wall being apt to render them mealy before they become ripe. In the northern parts of the island, however, a south-east or south-west as pect answers best. In some of the warmer districts of England, several varieties of the apricot, particularly the Moorpark, transparent, Breda, and Brussels, are frequently planted as espalier trees, the horizontal branches being tied to the rail, but the bearers left loose. Occasionally some of these, especially the Breda and Brussels, are tried in the form of dwarf standards ; and in fine seasons, they yield the highest flavoured fruit.
When an apricot tree has been greatly mismanaged, it may be cut clown very much, as it sets out stronger branches than a peach tree, and these may soon be trained so as to fill the former space. The strong branches of this tree are very apt to throw out gum at places where any ar cidental hurt has been received : the usual remedy is to cut on the di .eased part, filling up the space with pitch and in melted together, or merely with a little tar, or any sor f mild paint.
Apricots arc seldom forced, as they do not in general 01 expectation in this way. The Moorpark, how e:, is sometimes seen on the fined wall along with peach and dwarf or espalier plants of the early masculine and Brussels, are occasionally introduced into the border of the cherry-house or the peach-house, with success.
Plum.
99. The Plum tree, (Prunus domestics, L.) is complete ly naturalized irrthis country, but can scarcely be said to he indigenous to Britain : it is however admitted into our Flora by Sir J. E. Smith, and is figured in English Botany, plate 1783. There are many varieties, of which sonic of the oldest and best marked are P. priecos, the primordian ; damascena, the damask or damson; juliana, the St Julian ; pertigona, the perdrigon ; and cerea, the magnum bonum. Parkinson enumerates no fewer than sixty sorts. Miller describes only about thirty.
100. The following are the kinds chiefly cultivated at present : The White primordian, which is also called St Barnaby's plum, and sometimes Jaune-ilative, is the earliest plum we hate, commonly ripening in the end of July. The fruit is small, of a longish shape, sugary, but without much fla vour. One tree on a wall is reckoned enough, the tree be ing a free bearer.
The Early Damask, 01 Morocco, immediately succeeds the white primordial]. The Precoce de Tours and Mai tre Cler.,1 are well flavoured plums, and the trees grow free ly, am bear well as standards.
Monsieur's or the Wentworth, is a large fruit, some resemblMg the white magnum : the tree is a copious bearer, and answers very kvell as a standard : the fruit is much used for tarts and in sweetmeats. The inz peratrice is remarkably late, seldom ripening on standards till the end of October.
The Perdrigons are melting, sugary, and perfumed fruits ; the trees are not very free beard 5, but are in many places planted as espalier and dwarf standards.
Inc Queen Claudia of Rouen, or Verte bonne, seems to be the propel Green-gage ; " the best (says Mr Nn.ol,) the most generally known, and most highly esteemed of the plum kind." A few trees of this sort arc generally trained to a south east or south-west wall ; but in a sheltered situation, and w here the soil is a rich deep loam, with a dry bottom, the fruit acquires a higher flavour when pro duced on standards. The white or yellow gage, and the blue or red gage, though inferior to the green, are much cultivated.
Tho Drap-d'or, golden drop, or cloth of gold plum, is a good fruit ; but it requires a wall, and the tree is not in general a plentiful hearer.
The White Imperial, or white magnum bonum, has also several other names, as yellow magnum, Holland magnum, Mogul plum, and egg plum. It is a very common fruit ; of a large size ; sweet, but with no great flavour ; excel lent for tarts and sweetmeats : the tree grows freely, and seldom fails to bear, either on a wall, or as a standard.
The Red Imperial is likewise called red magnum bonum; it is also a large fruit, and of fine appearance ; but it is principally used For baking and preserving: the tree is a free bearer as a standard. The St Catherine has a rich sweet juice, and is fit either for the dessert, or for being used in confectionary.
The Orleans is a middling good plum, of which there are several varieties, as the old or led, the new, and white. The tree is a vigorous grower, and great bearer : it succeeds perfectly as a standard, but is sometimes placed against a wall : it is well suited for a market fruit garden.