Switzer, in his ** Practical Fruit Gardener," 

 published in London in 1724, speaks thus of the 

 Noblesse of his time : — 



" The Noblesse Peach, for largeness, good taste, 

 and the hardiness and durableness of the tree, is not 

 equalled, much less excelled, by any fruit we have 

 in England ; perfectly agreeing with our soil and 

 climate, as much as if it had been a native of our 

 own. It succeeds the Montauban, and for size im- 

 proves upon him. The flowers are of the whitish pale 

 blush, and the leaves somewhat serrated. In short, 

 it is the best Peach (take it altogether) of any we 

 have had from France ; and a man that is content 

 with, or has but room for a few, cannot do better 

 than to plant the Montauban and Noblesse Peach, 

 preferable to any other." 



Hence it appears that this celebrated variety is of 

 French origin, and yet it is singular that it has not 

 hitherto been identified with any thing in the modern 

 French Gardens. This has induced me to put toge- 

 ther the following remarks : — 



The Noblesse Peach is in the section of '* serra- 

 ted glandless leaves, large flowers, meiters," of Mr. 

 Lindley's classification. The French include in this 

 section, according to the " Bon Jardinier," the Avant- 

 Peche Blanche (White Nutmeg, Miller), Madeleine 

 Blanche, de Malte, Madeleine de Courson, Car- 

 dinale, d'Ispahan, and Nain. 



The three last are peculiar sorts, not generally 

 cultivated, nor does the merit of their fruit deserve 

 that they should be ; and the first is only cultivated 

 for its precocity. The Madeleine de Courson is 



