THE PEACH. 



WILLIAM KERR HIGLEY, 

 Secretary of The Chicago Academy of Sciences. 



THE peach {Amygdalus persica, L.), 

 is one of our most important 

 and best-known fruits. 

 It is not found in the wild state, 

 in its present form, though in some 

 localities it propagates itself, having 

 escaped from cultivation. 



It is probably a native of China, 

 where it has been cultivated for centu- 

 ries and where it is said to reach its 

 greatest perfection, although Darwin 

 holds that the evidence seems to indi- 

 cate that the wild almond of Persia is 

 the original source of the cultivated 

 almond, the peach, and the nectarine. 

 The specific n3.me persira, has its origin 

 in the fact that the peach was obtained 

 from Persia, both by the Romans and 

 the Greeks. 



Dr. Willis tells us that "it was intro- 

 duced into Italy from Persia by the 

 Romans, in the reign of Claudius 

 Caesar. It was introduced into Great 

 Britain during the sixteenth century, 

 and thence brought in i68o by the 

 settlers of Virginia to America." 



The number of varieties seems to be 

 unlimited. Over four hundred have 

 been catalogued, though less than one 

 hundred of these are constant. The 

 nectarine is considered a variety and 

 closely related to the peach and the 

 plum, the apricot, and the cherry. 



The tree itself, when bearing its beau- 

 tiful rose-colored, five-petaled flowers, 

 is highly ornamental. It seldom grows 

 higher than twenty feet and its 

 branches form a symmetrical top. One 

 very ornamental variety produces 

 double flowers and bright, shining 

 leaves, but no fruit. 



This valuable plant is generally 

 placed in the famil)- Rosacccc, which in- 

 cludes many species of economic and 



ornamental importance. Besides those 

 already mentioned, here belong the 

 rose, the strawberry, the raspberry, the 

 blackberry, the apple, the pear, and the 

 quince, as well as many beautiful wild 

 forms. 



The thousand or more species usu- 

 ally classed in this family may be 

 readily separated into distinct groups, 

 to which are given distinct famil)' 

 names by some authorities. Thus, the 

 peach, the cherry, the plum, and the 

 almond, which resemble each other in 

 regard to the structure of their fruits 

 and in their chemical constituents, may 

 be placed in a family by themselves. 



It is of interest to note that this lus- 

 cious fruit was not always considered 

 free from noxious qualities. Pliny 

 states that it was considered by some 

 that its presence in Egypt was due to 

 its introduction there by the Persian 

 king for the purpose of poisoning his 

 enemies. 



The Chinese writings refer to the 

 peach as early as the fifth century be- 

 fore Christ, and it is given the name 

 "tao" by Confucius. We are also told 

 that in these writings "the peach tree 

 holds the same place that the tree 

 of knowledge does in the sacred script- 

 ures, and that the golden Hesperides, 

 apples of the heathen, hold among the 

 western nations." 



In Chinese mythology a' peach tree 

 is mentioned which was thought to 

 possess the power of causing immor- 

 tality but which produced its fruit but 

 once in a thousand years, and an- 

 other, which grew on a mountain and 

 which existed in the early history of 

 China, was said to be guarded by a 

 number of demons. 



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