SYRIAN FKUITS. 1 15 



XIX. — Syrian Fruits in the possession of John Barker, of 



Sugedia. 



[A Knightian Medal having been transmitted to John Barker, 

 Esq., of Suaedia, for having introduced the Stan wick Nec- 

 tarine, named at p. 272 of the first volume of our Journal, 

 and which is much the finest Nectarine in cultivation in this 

 country, letters of acknowledgment were addressed by that 

 gentleman to the Vice-Secretary, from which the following 

 very interesting extracts have been made.] 



I beg leave to make the Society my humble acknowledgments 

 for the honour which they have been pleased to confer on me, 

 and which I regard as an earnest of the distinguished favour I 

 presume to hope to receive at their hands, when I shall have in- 

 troduced into England twenty varieties of 



1. A new species called " TJie Siveet-kernelled Peach," among 

 which are six varieties of the Nectarine, all of equal, and some 

 of superior value to the " Stanwick Nectarine." 



2. A new species of the Apricot with a sweet kernel, called 

 " Sheker Para" (bit of sugar) of Ispahan. 



3. " The large sweet White Midherry of Iran" from which 

 a syrup is extracted, hardly to be distinguished from syrup made 

 from sugar. It is highly extolled by Sir Alexander Burnes in 

 his ' Travels in Bokhara.' 



4. A Plum, with a sweet kernel, called " Aloo Bokhara" 

 which is also celebrated by the same traveller. When ripe, its 

 stone is in view through its skin. 



5. The famous " Pomegranate of Tabriz,^'* without seed, 

 weighing from 50 to 60 ounces. 



6. The still more renowned " Quince" of most parts of Persia 

 of the same size ; which ripens on the tree or in the store, losing 

 all its austerity, and eaten at the dessert like a soft ripe pear. 



This wonderful production of nature, and the '''•Pomegranate 

 of Tabriz" are yearly forwarded in presents by caravan to 

 Bagdad. 



The Pomegranate is not eaten as are the common sorts, but is 

 squeezed into a goblet, and drunk off like a draught of sherbet ; 

 and the highly-perfumed odour of the " Quince" is such, in 

 Oriental exaggeration, as that, when there is a single ripe speci- 

 men of the fruit in a caravan, every one who accompanies it is 

 conscious of its presence. 



In bringing under the notice of the Horticultural Society the 

 foregoing statement, be pleased, Sir, to sav that I have now in 



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