A M Y 



A M Y 



height ; uhilc in others, and in gardens, it prnws 

 a fathom in height. Tt blooms in April, ulwhicli 

 time all the voungshoots arc covered wiih flowers, 

 \vhieh are of a peach-blossom colour, and make 

 a line appearance. It is a native of the norlhern 

 parts of Asia. 



In the lifth the branches arc smooth, two or 

 three feet high, of a dark purple colour. The 

 leaves are lanceolate, petiolate, veined, wrinkled, 

 serrulate. The flowers are generally two ti^ a 

 bud, and sessile. 'I'he calvx is reddish ; the petals 

 emarginalc, nd, longer than the tube of the 

 calyx. The tilanients paler; germ and stvle 

 pubescent at bottom. The stipules linear, very 

 deeply serrate. Its native country is Africa. 



It has varieties with double flowers. The sinsjle 

 sort ffowers the beginning of April, and the 

 double is commonly three weeks later. 



In the sixth species the bark is brown ash-colour- 

 ed, and rough. The leaves scattered, frequent, ses- 

 sile, lanceolate, narrowing towards the base, fre- 

 quently and sharply serrate, edge a little bent in, 

 furrowed or wrinkled above alongthe veins, which 

 are very prominent underneath. The stipules 

 bristly, sometimes toothed, permanent. The 

 flowers are less than in the dwarf sort, solitary 

 or twin, sessile at the branches among the leaves, 

 and breaking out with them. The segments of 

 the calyx much less than in the nana. The petals 

 are of a pale rose-colour. The stamens about twelve, 

 scarcely longer than the tube of the calyx. 



Professor Martyn doubts whether this be 

 any thing more than a variety of the fourth 

 species. 



Intheseventh species, or Silver-leaved Almond, 

 the leaves are silvery, and very like those of the 

 Sea Purslane. They continue most of the year. 

 'I"hc fiowers are verv small, but have not been yet 

 succeeded by fruit m this climate. It is a native 

 of the Levant. 



In the second, or Peach kind, the only species 

 cultivated is the A.perslca, or Peach Tree. 



This in its natural state of growth is a small 

 tree, with spreading branches. The leaves larger 

 than those of the Almond, lanceolate, alternate, 

 smooth and serrate; the serratures short, sharp, 

 and regular. The flowers are sessile and solita- 

 ry ; the calyxes reddish ; the corollas bell-shaped, 

 with a spreading border of a tine light purple or 

 pale rose-colour, but with vcrj' little scent. The 

 fruit is a roundish drupe, commonly pointed op- 

 posite to the peduncle, and with one longitudi- 

 nal groove : the pulp is large, fleshy, and succu- 

 lent, whit£ or yellowish, sometimes reddish, 

 abounding with a grateful sweet acid juice ; the 

 outside is of a pale greenish colour, with a blush 

 or tawny redness frequently towards the sun, 

 and the skin i> lanuginose or woolly : llie stone 



is very tlilck and hard, full of deep irrogul.ir fur- 

 rows, and incloses a bitter keiiul. Tl>e wood of 

 this tree is nf a reddish brown colour, darker to- 

 wards the middle, and is fit for the use of the 

 turner. It is of quick growth, but not of vcr\' 

 loiiil duration. 



'1 he original country of its nativity is not 

 known, but it seems to have been obtained by 

 the Homans from I'ersia. 



'I'he varieties that are in cultivation for the 

 sake of the fruit are exireuiely numerous ; those 

 in most esteem, according to the editor of Mil- 

 1( r's Dictionary and Mr. Forsyth, are the follow- 

 insr ; 



The White Nutmeg Peach, which is small, 

 but the juice sugary. It is chiefly esteemed aa 

 being first ripe. This is in eating in July, but 

 soon grows mealy. — The Red Nutmeg, which 

 produces larger and rounder fruit, is a great 

 Dearer, and valued for its early maturity. It is 

 of a bright vermilion colour, and has a fine musky 

 taste. This sort is held in much esteem, and 

 ripens about the beginning of Aujiust. — ^The 

 Early Avant, which has an agreeable ffavour, and 

 ripens in August, but is apt to be stringy in eat- 

 ing. — ^The Small Mignonne, which is very red 

 on the side next the sun, the flesh having a rich 

 vinous juice. It becomes ripe about the middle 

 of August. — The Anne I'each, which is a fine 

 early fruit. It ripens about the middle or latter 

 end of August. It is said to have taken its name 

 from Mrs. Anne Dunch, of Pusey, in Berkshire, 

 where it was first raised. — ^The Royal George 

 Peach, which comes in soon after the above, and 

 in which the flower is large and white; the fruit 

 of a dark red colour towards the sun, and full of 

 a fine rich juice. It ripens about the latter end 

 of August. — The Royal Kensington, which is one 

 of the best Peaches that are cultivated. It is of a 

 high red colour next the sun, and yellowish next 

 the wall. 'J'liis is a good bearer, and not liable 

 to be blighted. The flesh is rich and juicy. It 

 ripens about the latter end of August or begin- 

 niMgofSepteml)cr. — ^The^'ellowAIbergeisapcaeh 

 of a loleraole size and good taste, but which should 

 be perfectly ripe before it is gathered, otlurwise 

 it is not good for eating. It becomes ripe about 

 the middle of August. — ^The White Magdalen, 

 which is seldom high flavoured, unless it be 

 forced ; in which case it is excellent. It ripens 

 about the middle of August, and has a very small 

 stone.— The Karly Purple, the fruit of which is 

 large, of a fine red colour, uiul full of rich vinous 

 juice. 'Pliis IS an excellent pcacii, and becomes 

 ripe about the latter end of August. — The Large 

 or French Mignonne, wliieh is a beautiful large 

 red peach, and has a sweet hmh-flavoured juice. 

 It is one of the best French Peaches, and is ripe 



