Horticultural Society ( Pp. 390-462, 1887-8)

Russian apricot trees have been planted and fruited. The tree is very hardy. I can see no reason why it will not prove profitable." - Geo. A. DeGroff, Marshall Co. " Russian apricot trees have fruited in this country and are considered profitable." - John O'Toole, Norton Co. "From observations, I am favorably impressed with this fruit, and would not hesitate to plant it for profit." - J. W. Knodle, Phillips Co. "Russian apricot has proved to be an entire failure in this locality " - J. B. Avery, Washington Co. "The general seedling class is a failure." - H. H. Kern, Wyandotte Co. "Russian apricot has been fruited in the county, and would be profitable if protected from injury by the curculio. It is now regarded as of no more value than other sorts." - J. W. Byram, Chase Co. " Russian apricot has failed in a crop of fruit during the last two years." - M. Hall, Harvey Co. "Russian apricot trees are not profitable to grow." - Theo. Boggs, McPherson Co. "Russian apricots are grown in the Mennonite settlements in the northeast part of the county, and are considered profitable." - B. P. Hanan, Reno Co. "The Russian apricot is not considered a profitable fruit to grow." - Jos. Reynolds, Crawford Co. "The Russian apricot is not considered profitable for this country." - D. Morrison, Kiowa Co.

From Cm. Stark, Stark Nurseries, Louisiana, Mo

Russian apricots are quite hardy here; we have also tested them at Denver, where the climate is even more trying, and apples like Maiden Blush, Missouri Pippin, Northern Spy, etc., do not stand, and they are hardy - hardy as Richmond cherry.

The best sort is doubtless the Shense; then Alexander, Alexis and Budd; Gibb and Catherine, less desirable; Nicholas discarded. Preib, Evatt, Smith, Byram and Remer are identical with the five just named. Mr. Remer distributed scions both to nurserymen in Kansas and Nebraska, but to each without the knowledge of the other, hence there was no intentional deception upon the part of introducers. The Kansas man obtained scions a year ahead, but lost them, so the Nebraska collection was sent out first.

Perhaps it is too soon to say how much farther north than the common French apricots the Russians will prove valuable ; but it is not a question of hardiness in tree, simply of early blooming and consequent liability to injury by frosts. To say the least, they promise an occasional crop, especially when trained on walls, etc., where it would be hopeless but for the Russians.

Peach stocks should be avoided, also myrobolan; native plums are good, except that they sucker, and are variable as to hardiness. We believe the best stock, not only for the Russians, but for all apricots, is the Marianna plum. Five years ago we sent apricots on Marianna to California and other states, and thus far trees are in perfect health and vigor.

From T. V. Munson, Denison, Texas

As to hardiness, Russian apricots have endured our climate pretty well, though some suffered from the long continued summer. It is rather too far south for them.

I grew trees from seed obtained from Nebraska, grown by Mennonites, and budded from the best trees that bore fair or good very early fruit. I have not tried named kinds of the Russian, but see little difference specifically between the Russian seedlings and other varieties in cultivation, such as Early Golden, Moor park, etc. I understand the apricot to be a native of Russia in Asia, growing in thickets on the head waters of the Yenisei, Obi and other rivers, consequently would expect it to be suited to such regions as Western Texas, Colorado, New Mexico, Utah, Nevada, Central California, etc., where the atmosphere is dry and proper irrigation can be had. Here the apricot generally blooms too early and gets killed by late frosts. The best soil is a calcareous loam, with sand or gravel enough to make it porous. They should be fertilized with potash manures, and generally treated as are peach trees.

So far as I know, the "Russian" varieties, or those of more recent introduction from Russia, are valuable owing to their early fruiting, extreme earliness and productiveness and endurance of the climate of the northwest where most older varieties fail from extreme cold. But few of the varieties, however, are really valuable. Most of the seedlings, as with seedlings of other classes of fruits are worthless, being either sickly, too small or too poor in quality to justify planting in orchards.

They appear to do best upon peach stocks. I have them upon Marianna plum stocks, but they are not old enough to speak of their permanent success thereon, though so far they appear healthy and vigorous enough.

Conclusions

The following statements appear to be warranted by the above correspondence:

1. The Russian apricot is somewhat hardier than the peach, and may be expected to endure the climate a degree or two north of the peach belt.

2. It blooms early and is liable to injury from late spring frosts.

3. Seedlings vary widely and many of them are worthless.

4. The fruit, even of the best sorts, is much inferior to that of the older and better known varieties of apricots.

5. There is promise of considerable improvement under proper care and selection.

6. It is particularly liable to attacks of the curculio and plum gouger.

7. It works well upon common plum, upon Prunus Americana, Marianna, peach and myrobolan. It is probable that Marianna or some other of the native plums will be found to be the most desirable stocks.

8. In general, it appears that on the northern limits of peach culture the best varieties of Russian apricot are worth cultivation on a limited scale; and they may increase in value with further attention.