Naturalisation in Extra-Tropical Countries. 389 



Prunus Persica, J. Hooker.* (Amygdalus Persica, Linne.) 



China, not really indigenous to Persia, as ascertained by Alph. 

 de Candolle. Wild, according to Juworski, also in Afghanistan. 

 The Peach-tree, as delightful through its early flowering as through 

 the ready yield of its luscious fruit. Not quite so hardy as the 

 Almond-tree in cooler climes, though enduring the clime of 

 England. In the southern of the United States peaches are 

 not rarely turned to account for alcoholic fermentation and 

 distillation [Bhind . California exported 10 million pounds of 

 canned and over a million pounds of dried peaches in 1887. 

 Peaches on trees grown near the Darling-River have attained a 

 weight of eleven ounces [Mrs. M. B. Kennedy]. Prolific crops are 

 also obtained in the inland-country of tropical Australia, indeed 

 the Peach-tree has next to the Fig-tree shown itself better capable 

 to cope with the extremes of temperature in Central Australia than 

 any other, even the Apricot-tree ; thus it bore a heat of 150-160 

 F. exposed to the sun [Kempe]. The Nectarine, which is 

 characterised by smooth fruits, is a variety merely. In Afghanistan 

 some particular kind has a kernel of almost Almond-taste [Dr. 

 Aitchison], Peach-trees occasionally bear fruit precociously even 

 in the second year after sowing. For preserving, Peaches should 

 be halved, boiled 8 minutes, and sugar be used at the rate of 6 

 ounces to a quart of water [Shelton]. Bees resort to the flowers. 

 The bark used as an anthelmintic. The necessity of reducing 

 the genus Amygdalus to that of Prunus was indicated in 181*2 

 already by Stokes (Bot. Mat. Met. in. 101) and in 1813 by F. G. 

 Hayne (Arznei-Grewaechse iv. 38). 



Prunus Pseudo-Cerasus, Lindley. (P. Puddum, Roxburgh.) 



The " Sakura " of Japan, extending to Upper India. A large 

 shady tree, its stem attaining two feet in diameter, charming to 

 view when bearing its profusion of flowers. The fruit is of the size 

 of small cherries and of pleasant and refreshing taste, though never 

 quite sweet [Wallich]. It is this tree which supplies mainly the 

 wood so extensively required for xylography in Japan [Dupont]. 



Prunus serotina. Ehrhart. 



The Black Cherry-tree of Eastern North- America. Of compara- 

 tively quick growth. In Virginia and Alabama tlie tree attains a 

 height of about 100 feet, with a stem 4 feet in diameter ; it prefers 

 rich porous soil in the upper parts of valleys. Fruit slightly bitter, 

 but with a pleasant vinous flavor ; wood compact, light, easily 

 worked, not liable to warp [Sargent], very valuable for cabinet- 

 and sash-makers [A. Gray] ; of a pale-red color, dense, fine-grained ; 

 when polished as beautiful as mahogany- w^ood [Robb and Sim- 

 monds]. Will live on the poorest soil, and even within the salt- 

 spray of the coast. Readily raised from seeds and transplanted, 



