Apricots in brandy

1. "take freshly gathered apricots not too ripe; to half their weight of loaf sugar, add as much water as will cover the fruit; boil and skim it: then put in the apricots, and let them remain five or six minutes; take them up without syruup, and ;ay them on dishes to cool; boil the syrup till reduced one half; when the apricots are cold, put them in bottles, and cover them with equal quantities of syrup and french brandy.
2. If the apricots be clingstone, they will require more scalding.