98 PEACH. 



PEACH. 

 PECHER. Jlmygdahis Persica. 



IT is generally considered that the Peach is of Persian 

 origin. In Media, it is deemed unwholesome ; but when 

 planted in Egypt, becomes pulpy, delicious, and salubrious. 

 It has been cultivated, time immemorial, in most parts of 

 Asia; when it was introduced into Greece, is uncertain. The 

 best Peaches in Europe are supposed to be grown in Italy, 

 on standards. 



The list of Peaches in the London Catalogue, contains 

 about two hundred and fifty-names, fifty of which are deno- 

 minated American Peaches. Several attempts have been 

 made to class the varieties of Peaches and Nectarines by the 

 leaf and flower, as well as the fruit. Mr. Robertson, a nur- 

 seryman at Kilkenny, has founded his arrangement on the 

 glands of the leaves ; and Mr. George Lindley, of London, 

 has, in a peculiarly distinct manner, arranged no fewer than 

 one hundred and fifty-five sorts of Peaches and Nectarines 

 in well-defined divisions and sections. There are various 

 instances on record, (Hort. Trans, vol. i- p. 103,) of both 

 fruits growing on the same tree, even on the same branch ; 

 and one case has occurred of a single fruit partaking of the 

 nature of both. The French consider them as one fruit, 

 arranging them in four divisions ; the Pcches, or freestone 

 Peaches ; the Peches lisses, or freestone Nectarines, or free- 

 stone Peaches ; the Pavies, or clingstone Peaches ; and the 

 Brognons, or Nectarines, or clingstone smooth Peaches. 



Although this fruit will thrive in any sweet, pulverized 

 soil that is properly prepared, a rich sandy loam is the most 

 suitable. Next to the selection and preparation of a suitable 

 soil, a choice of good healthy trees is of the utmost import 

 ance. The seed for stocks should be selected from the 

 vigorous growing young, or middle-aged healthy trees ; and 

 the buds should be taken from some of the choicest fruit- 



