Naturalisation in Extra-Tropical Countries. 429 



Primus maritima, Wangenheim. 



The Beech-Plum of Eastern North-America. A shrubby species, 

 of service not only for covering coast-sands, but also for its fruit, 

 which is crimson or purple, globular, measuring from \ to 1 inch. 

 Information on these and other varieties and on orchard-fruits in 

 general may be sought in Hogg's " Fruit-Manual. " 



Prunus occidentalis, Swartz. 



Mountains of the Antilles. A tall tree. Mr, W. G. Lyon reports 

 the fruit as luscious in a cultivated state; this plum-like fruit, accord- 

 ing to Grisebach, is nearly one inch long. 



Prunus Padus, Linn6. 



The Birds' Cherry-tree. Europe, Northern and Western Asia, 

 extending to the Himalayas and the mountains of Northern Africa. 

 A small tree. Foliage deciduous ; the leaves distilled for medicinal 

 purposes, the bark also used therapeutically. 



Prunus Persica, Stokes.* (A mygdalus Persica, Linn6.) 



The Peach-tree. China, not really indigenous to Persia, as ascer- 

 tained by Alph. de Candolle. Wild, according to Juworski, also in 

 Afghanistan. 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, 

 where it was introduced already by the Romans. Will bear well yet 

 after half a century. Where water is scarce and the climate dry 

 Peach-trees can advantageously be raised on Almond-stock. In the 

 southern of the United States peaches are not rarely turned to 

 account for alcoholic fermentation and distillation [Rhind]. Cali- 

 fornia 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 able to cope with the extremes of temperature 

 in Central Australia than any other, even the Apricot-tree ; thus it 

 bore a heat of 150-60 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 disease 

 "Peach Yellows" has proved most destructive in the United States 

 and is extremely difficult to cope with. Two kinds of Aphis, species 

 of Myzus, do much damage in Victoria ; spraying with kerosene- 

 emulsion has proved effective ; these aphides have also a natural 



