PEACH.-PERSICA, or AMYG- 

 DALUS. 







In Botany, a Genus of the Icosandria Mo- 

 nogynia Class. 





ALL the ancient authors agree that the 

 peach-tree is a native of Persia ; and it ap- 

 pears that the fruit was thought to be of a 

 poisonous nature. It is evident there had 

 formerly been traditionary tales of this fruit 

 having been sent into Egypt to poison the 

 inhabitants. Columella says, in his 10th 

 book : 



And apples, which most barbarous Persia sent, 

 With native poison arm'd (as fame relates) : 

 But now they've lost their pow'r to kill, and yield 

 Ambrosian juice, and have forgot to hurt; 

 And of their country still retain the name. 



Pliny, in his 15th book, chap. 13, men- 

 tions, that they had been stated to have pos- 



