PEACHES. 93 



gions of Louisiana, in his voyage down the Missis- 

 sippi, describes the peach he observed in all parts 

 of those regions, as being of immense size, which 

 has led some to conclude, that as those latitudes corres- 

 pond with the part of Asia, where this tree is deemed 

 indigenous, they are natural to Louisiana, Botanists, 

 in common with the French cultivators, regard the 

 peach and nectarine as merely varieties, and not dis- 

 tinct species. Scientific cultivators of Europe have 

 endeavored to make an arrangement of this fruit into 

 divisions, and sub-divisions. With us this would 

 seem to be a difficult process, as thousands of sub- 

 varieties are constantly being produced from the 

 seed, and we therefore ordinarily make but two di- 

 visions, under the terms freestone, and clingstone ; 

 the former, those whose pulp or flesh separates freely 

 from both skin and stone ; and the latter, those 

 whose flesh is firm, and adheres both to the skin and 

 stone. It would also be exceedingly difficult to make 

 a correct systematic arrangement of the kinds found 

 in the nurseries, as those known in many nurseries 

 by one name, are distinct varieties. We have re- 

 ceived from different sources, the " Noblesse," and 

 the "Vanguard," which, upon fruiting, appeared 

 identical; the "Early York," and "Early Royal 

 George," one and the same. We do not, however, 

 mean to be understood that it is difficult to depend 

 upon obtaining fine fruit, but simply that there is so 

 much confusion as to the original names, that it is 

 next to impossible, (as so many varieties nearly or 

 quite approximate to each other in quality, time of 



