OUR COMMON FRUIT TREES 



which, as previously stated, was introduced to this 

 country by the Spaniards soon after Columbus's time. 

 The Romans, during the reign of the Emperor 

 Claudius, received the Peach from Persia and for 

 centuries it was considered native of that country 

 and received a specific name to that effect. Present- 

 day authorities, however, are pretty well agreed that 

 its real home is China, though undisputable wild trees 

 have never been discovered. Nevertheless, it is 

 found naturalized over the greater part of China 

 where it has been cultivated for its fruit as far back 

 as records go. In Chinese folk-lore, in arts such as 

 porcelain-ware, wood-carving, embroidery, and paint- 

 ing it figures largely. Personally, I think there can 

 be no doubt about its Chinese origin, and am con- 

 vinced that it reached Persia and the Caspian region 

 through seeds carried by the old trade-route across 

 central Asia. In China are grown to-day freestone 

 and clingstone varieties with white, reddish, or yellow 

 flesh; also a curious variety having the fruit com- 

 pressed top and bottom and known as the "pien-tao" 

 or flat peach. The Smooth-skinned Peach or Necta- 

 rine likewise is of Chinese origin and seems to prefer 

 a rather warm climate. It is much grown in northern 

 Formosa. From China the Peach was long ago 

 taken to Korea and to Japan where to-day a great 

 many local varieties are cultivated. Into France and 



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