PLANTS CULTIVATED FOE THEIE FRUITS. 225 



"I have said nothing hitherto of the distinction to 

 be established between the different varieties or species 

 of the peach, since most of them are cultivated in all 

 countries — at least the clearly defined kinds, which may 

 'be considered as botanical species. Thus the great dis- 

 tinction between the downy and smooth-skinned fruits 

 (peaches proper and nectarines), on which it is proposed 

 to found two species (Persica vulgaris, Mill, and P. levis, 

 D. C), exists in Japan ^ and in Europe, as in most of the 

 intermediate countries.^ Less importance is attached 

 to distinctions founded on the adherence or non-adherence 

 of the skin, on the white, j^ellow, or red colour of the 

 flesh, and on the general form of the fruit. The great 

 division into peaches and nectarines presents most of 

 these modifications in Europe, in Western Asia, and 

 probably in China. It is certain that in the latter 

 country the form of the fruit varies more than else- 

 where ; for there are as in Europe oval peaches, and also 

 the peaches of which I spoke just now, which are quite 

 flattened, in which the top of the stone is not even covered 

 with flesh.^ The colour also varies greatly.* In Europe 

 the most distinct varieties, nectarines and peaches, 

 freestones and clingstones, existed three centuries ago, 

 for J. Bauhin enumerates them very clearly ; ^ and before 

 him Dalechamp, in 1587, also gave the principal ones.^ 

 At that time nectarines were called NiiciiDeTsica, because 

 of their resemblance in shape, size, and colour to the 

 walnut. It is in the same sense that the Italians call 

 them pescanoce. 



" I have sought in vain for a proof that the nectarine 

 existed in Italy in the time of ancient Rome. Pliny,'' 

 who confounds in his compilation peaches, plums, the 

 Laurus Persea^ and perhaps other trees, says nothing 



1 Thnnberg, Fl. Jap., 199. 



2 The accounts about China which I have consulted do not mention 

 the nectarine ; but as it exists in Japan, it is extremely probable that it 

 does also in China. 



2 Noisette, Jard. Fr., p. 77 ; Trans. Hort. Soc, iv. p. 512, tab. 19. 



* Lindley, Trans. Hort. Soc, v. p. 122. ^ j. Bauhin,£risi., i. pp. 162, 163. 

 6 Dalechamp, Hist., i. p. 295. ^ Pliny, lib. xv. cap. 12 and 13. 



* Pliny, De Div. Gen. Malorum, lib. ii. cap. 14. 



Q 



