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Columella is the oldest Roman author 

 who has mentioned the tree that has been 

 considered the apricot. He writes, that at 

 the end of January we may graft the cherry- 

 tree, the Armenian plum, the nectarine, the 

 almond, the peach-tree, and others which 

 plush early. 



Pliny also mentions the Armenian plum ; 

 and says there is a plum, a kind of apricot, 

 brought from a foreign nation, and which is 

 called Armeniaca, and is desirable for its smell. 

 This great naturalist has particularly men- 

 tioned the apricot, as distinct from the Arme- 

 nian plum : he states that it was not known 

 above thirty years before he wrote the account, 

 which would make its introduction into Italy 

 about the sixtieth year of the Christian era. 

 Pliny says, " at its first coming, each sold for 

 a Roman denier :" he adds, " this fruit is harm- 

 less, and is in such request among invalids, 

 that thirty sesterces are given for one of them, 

 which is as great a price as is given for any 

 fruit whatever/' " We have," continues he, 

 " two sorts, supernatia, which we have from 

 the high countries, and, namely, the Sabines ; 

 and popularia, which grow common every 

 where/' Thus Pliny has furnished us with an 

 account of the apricot, and omitted to men- 

 tion from whence it was first procured. 



