92 OTJR COMMON FETJITS. 



a title derived from the " nectar" of the Olympian divini- 

 ties. The poet Thomson distinguishes the "ruddy fragrant 

 nectarine ' ' from the " downy peach ; " but it was some time 

 before it attained the distinction of a separate name ; for 

 though the former is always smaller, and has a perfectly 

 smooth and wax-like skin, instead of the velvet coat worn 

 by the latter, besides being gifted with a special piquancy 

 of taste, partaking more of the flavour of the kernel, yet 

 the trees on which they grow are so alike in habit and 

 appearance that the diiference can scarcely be told. It 

 is found in Northern India under the name of the Moondla 

 aroo, or Smooth Peach, but it does not perfectly ripen there, 

 and it is not known whence it was introduced, though 

 probably from Cabul. Nectarines are often found grow- 

 ing on peach-trees, and even sometimes on the same 

 branch with peaches, and it is now believed that they are 

 only an accidental variety of the peach, usually, though 

 not invariably, to be perpetuated by sowing their seeds. 

 The finest known is the Boston Nectarine, produced ori- 

 ginally from a peach-stone. 



The leaves of the peach are used in the Greek islands 

 to dye silk green, and the colour called " rose-pink " is 

 extracted from the wood of the tree. The fruit is noted 

 rather for its passive than its active virtues ; for while 

 Pliny, after mentioning that it is more wholesome than 

 the plum, bursts into the exclamation, " Indeed, what 

 fruit is there that is more wholesome as an aliment than 

 this ! " yet no very special power over the human frame 

 has been attributed to it, and, notwithstanding its whole- 

 someness, it may become very injurious should its charms 

 tempt the eater to excess. It did the world good service 

 once, indeed, through this very characteristic ; and having 

 had the honour of ridding England of a tyrant, deserves 

 quite as well to be held in grateful remembrance by the 

 patriotic as did the " little gentleman in black velvet " to 

 be immortalized in the toasts of the Jacobites ; for it was 

 due to no poison in the fruit, but simply because with jaded 

 body and irritated mind he " t ate gluttonously of peaches "" 

 at his last meal in Swinestead Abbey, that King John 

 closed so abruptly his inglorious career. A great love of 



