PEACHES. 



175 



diameter ; the leaves are furnished at their base with reniform 

 glands ; the fruit is commonly seventeen to eighteen lines in 

 diameter, and in general nearly of equal height ; one of its 

 sides is marked by a longitudinal groove, not very distinct, 

 and the summit is terminated by a very small tit or point ; the 

 skin is thin, covered with down, and tinged with red next the 

 sun, the residue being wholly whitish, or sometimes more 

 or less speckled with red dots ; the flesh is white, partially 

 melting, rather sweet, and considerably perfumed, and sepa- 

 rates readily from the stone, which is whitish or a very light 

 brownish red, and is but eight lines in length, six in breadth, 

 and five in thickness. This is one of the first peaches in rip- 

 ening, and in early seasons is In eating at the end of July, and 

 in ordinary years about the middle of August. 



NOBLESSE. PR. CAT. POM. MAG. 



Noblesse, of all English writers, beginning with Switzer in 1724, 



Noblest. Miller, No. 13, ed. 8. 



Hellish'' s Favourite, of the English gardens. 



Double Montague. Lond. Hort. Soc. cat. No. 48. 



Malta, f gome American collections. 



English Malta ? $ 



The following very complete description of this fruit I 

 transcribe from the Pomological Magazine. 



" Flowers large, pale blush ; leaves serrated, glandless ; 

 fruit large, in general of a roundish shape, somewhat hollow, 

 the shape of the fruit varies on the same tree, being often a 

 little elongated, with a large point on the summit ; skin slightly 

 downy, marbled dull red next the sun, somewhat streaked with 

 darker, breaking off in faint blotches towards the shaded side, 

 which is pale yellowish green ; flesh white to the stone, from 

 which it parts freely, melting and rich ; stone large, pale, obo- 

 vate, pointed ; ripens in the end of August or beginning of 

 September. It is one of the principal sorts for forcing. The 

 tree is hardy and a good bearer." 



Switzer in his " Practical Fruit Gardener," published in 

 London in 1824, speaks thus of the Noblesse of his time : 



