PEACH OF ECONOMIC PLANTS. 315 



considered as a test of real Indian shawls, but since the know- 

 ledge of the perfume and the plant producing it have become 

 known in this country they cannot be depended on, home- 

 made shawls being scented with it and sold as real Indian 

 ones. The leaves are also used as an ingredient in tobacco, and 

 an essential oil is obtained from them and used as a toilet per- 

 fume. The Arabs in their pilgrimages take a great quantity of 

 leaves with them, which are used in stuffing mattresses, pillows, 

 etc., and are supposed to keep off contagious diseases. 



Pea (Fisicm sativicm). — The garden pea is an annual tendril 

 climber, a native of the South of Europe. There are many 

 garden varieties supposed to have originated from the grey or field 

 pea. * They are now universally cultivated in countries suitable 

 to their culture, and form an important article of food. The 

 split peas of the shops are the white peas split and divested of 

 their skin. In Scotland grey peas are ground into meal, of 

 which peameal bannocks are made ; a very nutritious food. 



Peach {Aiiiygclalus persica), a small tree of the Almond 

 family (Drupaceae). As its specific name implies, it is supposed 

 to be a native of Persia, and to have migrated westward, 

 appearing in Italy at the beginning of the Christian era, and 

 in this country about the middle of the sixteenth century, 

 and now extensively cultivated in all moderately warm coun- 

 tries of both the northern and southern hemispheres. For 

 early crops of fruits it is extensively cultivated under glass 

 in this country, and in the open air it comes to perfection 

 when grown against walls. There are many varieties of the 

 Peach, the skin of the fruit of which is downy, while that of 

 the Nectarine, wdiich is considered only a variety, is smooth; 

 there are instances, however, on record of downy and smooth 

 fruits growing on the same tree. In North America the Peach 

 is extensively cultivated ; in the United States it is grown in 

 orchards, and in the season Peaches are as common in the towns 

 of the States as strawberries are in London, and wine is made of 

 them. 



Peach, Palm, a name given by Humboldt to Gidlidma 



