Most varieties of this fruit do well on our coastal downs country in the
South, and to a certain extent further west. The trees are very rapid
growers, and bear heavily. The earlier ripening fruit usually escapes
damage from fruit fly, but the late fruit often suffers considerably.
The apricot does best in a fairly strong rich soil, when it makes a
great growth, and bears heavy crops of large-sized fruit. It also does
well on sandier soils, which produce a firmer and better-drying fruit.
So far, although a number of trees are planted throughout the State, the
cultivation of the fruit is mainly confined to the production of table
fruit, drying or canning having been carried out to a small extent only.
The apricot grows to a large tree, and lives to a good old age. Like the
peach, it is a very vigorous grower when young, requiring severe pruning
in consequence, but, when once shaped, the trees require little in the
way of pruning other than the removal of superfluous branches and an
annual shortening in winter.