CHAPTER II. 



HISTORY, IMPROVEMENT, AND NOMENCLATURE. 



THE earliest fruits mentioned in history, are the grape, 

 the apple, and the fig, the former having been cultivated 

 about the time of the deluge. The almond is mentioned re- 

 peatedly in the sacred records, nearly 4000 years ago ; and 

 Theophrastus, who lived about 300 years before the Chris- 

 tian era, remarks that it was the only tree in Greece that 

 produced blossoms before the leaves ; hence we may safely 

 infer that the peach was then unknown. The fact that the 

 Jewish history no where speaks of the peach, indicates that 

 it was not a native of Persia, a country long inhabited by 

 that people.* It was doubtless, however, early intioduced 

 there. It was known to the Romans at the height of their 

 power, and the nectarine was spoken of by Columella and 

 by Pliny, as an admired fruit of their time. 



The Romans extended their conquests into nearly all parts 

 of the knoxvn world, and brought back the horticultural pro- 

 ductions adapted to the climate of Italy. The fig was ob- 

 tained from Syria, the peach from Persia, the citron from 

 Media, the pommegranate from Africa, the apricot from 

 Epirus, apples, pears, and plums, from Armenia, and cher- 

 ries from Pontus. When the Empire was at the height of 

 its power, or towards the close of the first century, the fol- 

 lowing fruits, cultivated at Rome, were enumerated by Pliny : 



Apples, 22 varieties ; 



Pears, 36 



Cherries, 8 



Quinces, 3 " 



Grapes, numerous varieties ; 



Plutns, many sorts, black, white, and variegated ; 



* It is found wild on the Himalayan mountains, whence it was probably carried tc 

 Persia, and to other parts of the world. 



