VARIETIES. 167 



leaf or flower; and perhaps thousands who enjoy this ele- 

 gant luxury every summer can hardly tell whether the 

 peach tree is deciduous or evergreen, or even a tree at 

 all ! But they all know the difference between a Free- 

 stone and Cling, a Yellow peach and a White one. And 

 these are really, if not the most certain, the most obvious 

 distinctions. Color strikes the eye at once. 



The ^tHiite Peaches are distinguished for the tender, 

 delicate, and sparkling quality of their flesh ; the Yellow 

 for their bright color, rich juice, and great size. In the 

 former, sweetness predominates ; in the latter, strength. To 

 most persons, especially those of experience and practiced 

 taste, the former are most palatable ; yet some, even of 

 this class, prefer the latter. But to the multitude at large, 

 the bright color and large size of the yellow peaches are 

 irresistable ; and, as a rule, they sell better in market 

 than the white. 



The fruit is again divided into Freestone and Cling, and 

 each of these divisions includes both white and yellow 

 peaches. The names clearly indicate their distinctive 

 character. The former parts from the stone freely, while 

 the latter clings to it tenaciously. The clings, especially 

 of some varieties, are very juicy and vinous, and of ex- 

 quisite flavor. But they are not popular as a market 

 fruit, owing to their adhesion to the stones, which 

 renders them inconvenient to eat. 



The class, and sometimes variety, may be told by the 

 branches and general contour of the head. In some, the 

 branches strike out horizontally ; in others, almost verti- 

 cally ; and in others still, at an intermediate angle. The 

 first gives the round head, like the apple tree ; the second, 

 the tapering head, somewhat resembling the cherry tree; 

 and the last, the spreading or fan-shaped head. An ob- 

 servant planter will soon notice these peculiarities, and 

 thus be able to tell his tr* 1 even in the winter, when 

 stripped of foliage. 



