Chapter I 



The Peach is closely allied to the Cherry, the Plum, 

 the Apricot and the Almond, and, according to Prof. 

 George Thurber, although usually called Amygdalus 

 Persica now comes under the genus Primus and will 

 hereafter be likely referred to as Prunus Persica. It 

 originated in the East ; Persia, or most probably China, 

 and in this latter country has been cultivated for 

 centuries. Darwin inclines to the view that the Peach 

 is derived from the Almond, giving his reasons pro and 

 con, and I think his conclusions are the ones generally 

 accepted at the present time. 



The tree on the peninsula reaches the height of 

 from fifteen to twenty-five, or, even, thirty, feet, with 

 corresponding ordinary diameter and circumference. 

 The leaves have the leaf-stock, are lance-shaped and 

 saw-toothed, and change in season from green to 

 yellow or brown. Situated on the leaf-stalks, usually, 

 we find, in many varieties, glands, some round or globe- 

 shaped, and some kidney-shaped, and, again, some 

 varieties glandless ; these latter commonly having 

 longer teeth to the leaves. The glands, probably, give 



