6 THE PEACH 



free from all insect depredations or injury from 

 disease, and rivaling in growth and productiveness 

 the famed orchards of Persia and China, the reputed 

 countries of its birth. 



Such is its great excellence from improved va- 

 rieties now cultivated and known to the country ? 

 and as exposed in our markets daily through the 

 season of its maturity, that we can scarcely be 

 charged with undue enthusiasm in rating the su- 

 perior qualities of the Peach its lusciousness of 

 taste and great beauty of color by uniting in our 

 praise with the old Pomologists "that it excels all 

 other fruits of the earth," It has been aptly said 

 that no fruit this side of Paradise has ever rivaled 

 it, and as a wholesome fruit of the season it has the 

 highest character from the medical profession. Half 

 a century ago the expression was often quoted " that 

 a basket of healthy ripe Peaches in the market was 

 worth more than a pound of calomel in the shop, 

 and that it robbed the doctor of a patient and the 

 druggist of a prescription." In its adaptability to 

 the soil and climate of the United States the Peach 

 is assigned the widest range of any other fruit, and 

 such is the estimation in which it is everywhere 

 held, that even in countries beyond its climatic limits 

 of open culture, it finds a place in the orchard house 

 forced under glass or on the trellis against a south. 

 ern wall, under -the care and skill of the expert 

 gardener, and is considered the greatest luxury of the 

 season. So well is this fruit known throughout the 



