AMY 



A M Y 



height ; while in others, and in gardens, it grows 

 a fathom in height. It blooms in April, at which 

 time all the young shoots are covered with flowers, 

 which are of a peach-blossom colour, and make 

 a fine appearance. It is a native of the northern 

 parts of Asia. 



In the fifth the branches are smooth, two or 

 three feet high, of a dark purple colour. The 

 .leaves are lanceolate, petiolate, veined, wrinkled, 

 serrulate. The flowers are generally two to a 

 bud, and sessile. The calyx is reddish; the petals 

 emarginate, red, longer than the tube of the 

 calyx. The filaments paler; germ and style 

 pubescent at bottom. The stipules linear, very 

 deeply serrate. Its native country is Africa. 



It has varieties with double flowers. The single 

 sort flowers the beginning of April, and the 

 double is commonly three weeks later. 



In the sixth species the bark is brown ash-colour- 

 ed, and rough. The leaves scattered, frequent, ses- 

 sile, lanceolate, narrowing towards the base, fre- 

 quently and sharply serrate, edge a little bent in, 

 furrowed or wrinkled above along the veins, which 

 are very prominent underneath. The stipules 

 bristly, sometimes toothed, permanent. The 

 flowers are less than in the dwarf sort, solitary 

 or twin, sessile at the branches among the leaves, 

 and breaking out with them. The segments of 

 the calyx much less than in the nana. The petals 

 are of a pale rose -colour . The stamens about twelve, 

 scarcely longer than the tube of the calyx. 



Professor Martyn doubts whether this be 

 any thing more than a variety of the fourth 

 species. 



In the seventh species, or Silver-leaved Almond, 

 the leaves are silver)', and very like those of the 

 Sea Purslane. They continue most of the year. 

 The flowers are very small, but have not been vet 

 succeeded by fruit in this climate. It is a native 

 of the Levant. 



In the second, or Peach kind, the only species 

 cultivated is the A.persica, or Peach Tree. 



This in its natural state of growth is a small 

 tree, with spreading branches. The leaves larger 

 than those of the Almond, lanceolate, alternate, 

 smooth and serrate ; the serratures short, sharp, 

 and regular. The flowers are sessile and solita- 

 ry ; the calyxes reddish; the corollas bell-shaped, 

 with a spreading border of a fine light purple or 

 pale rose-colour, but with very little scent. The 

 fruit is a roundish drupe, commonly pointed op- 

 posite to the peduncle, and with one longitudi- 

 nal groove : the pulp is large, fleshy, and succu- 

 lent, white or yellowish, sometimes reddish, 

 abounding with a grateful sweet acid juice ; the 

 outside is of a pale greenish colour, with a blush 

 or tawny redness frequently towards the sun, 

 and the skin is lanuginose or woolly : the stone 



is very thick and hard, full of deep irregular fur- 

 rows, and incloses a bitter kernel. The wood of 

 this tree is of a reddish brown colour, darker to- 

 wards the middle, and is fit for the use of the 

 turner. It is of quick growth,- but not of very 

 long duration. 



The original country of its nativity is not 

 known, but it seems to have been obtained by 

 the Romans from Persia. 



The varieties that are in cultivation for the 

 sake of the fruit are extremely numerous ; those 

 in most esteem, according to the editor of Mil- 

 ler's Dictionary and Mr. Forsyth, are the follow- 

 ing : 



The White Nutmeg Peach, which is small, 

 but the juice sugary. It is chiefly esteemed as 

 being first ripe. This is in eating in July, but 

 soon grows mealy. — The Red Nutmeg, which 

 produces larger and rounder fruit, is a great 

 bearer, and valued for its early maturity. It is 

 of a bright vermilion colour, and has a line musky- 

 taste. This sort is held in much esteem, and 

 ripens about the beginning of August. — The 

 Early Avant, which lias an agreeable flavour, and 

 ripens in August, but is apt to be stringy in eat- 

 ing, — The Small Mignonne, which is very red 

 on the side next the sun, the flesh having a rich 

 vinous juice. It becomes ripe about the middle 

 of August. — The Anne Peach, which is a fine 

 early fruit. Tt ripens about the middle or latter 

 end of August. It is said to have taken its name 

 from Mrs. Anne Dunch, of Pusey, in Berkshire, 

 where it was first raised. — The Royal George 

 Peach, which comes in soon after the above, and 

 in which the flower is large and white ; the fruit 

 of a dark red colour towards the sun, and full of 

 a fine rich juice. It ripens about the latter end 

 of August. — The Royal Kensington, which is one 

 of the best Peaches that are cultivated. It is of a 

 high red colour next the sun, and yellowish next 

 the wall. This is a good bearer, and not liable 

 to be blighted. The flesh is rich and juicy. It 

 ripens about the latter end of August or begin- 

 ning of September. — The Yellow Alberge is apeach 

 of atolerablesizeand good taste, butwhich should 

 be perfectly ripe before it is gathered, otherwise 

 it is not good for eating. It becomes ripe about 

 the middle of August. — The White Magdalen, 

 which is seldom high flavoured, unless it be 

 forced ; in which case it is excellent. It ripens 

 about the middle of August, and has a very small 

 stone. — The Early Purple, the fruit of which is 

 large, of a tine red colour, and full of rich vinous 

 juice. This is an excellent peach, and becomes 

 ripe about the latter end of August. — The Large 

 or French Mignonne, which is a beautiful large 

 red peach, and has a sweet high-flavoured juice. 

 It is one of the best French Peaches, and is ripe 



