466 "[Assembly 



from thence, that it was one of the natural productions of that coun- 

 try. Pliny relates that it had been stated to possess venomous quali- 

 ties, and that its fruit was sent into Egypt, by the Kings of Persia, 

 by way of revenge, to poison the natives; but he treats this story as 

 a mere fable, and considers it the most harmless fruit in the world. 

 He expressly states that it was imported by the Romans from Persia; 

 but whether it was indigenous to that country, or sent thither from a 

 region still nearer the equator, we have no information. 



The Nectarine. 



Although the JVecfarine ( P. v. lavis,) is considered by some bot= 

 anists as a distinct species, there can be but little doubt of their be- 

 ing derived from the same type, as the fruits of the peach and that 

 of the nectarine have both been found growing on the same branch; 

 and even one instance is recorded, where the fruit had the smooth 

 surface ot the nectarine on one side, and the downy skin of the peach 

 on the other. 



The Apricot. 



The Jlpricot {Arraeniaca vulgaris,) is indigenous to Armenia, Cau- 

 casus, the Himalayas, China, and Japan. It is supposed, however, to 

 have originated in Armenia, but Regnier and Sickler assign it a 

 parallel between the Niger and Mount Atlas. Pallas considers it to 

 be a native of the whole of Caucasus; and Thunberg describes it as 

 a very large, spreading, branchy tree, in Japan. 



The Plum. 



It is the opinion of some authors that the common Domestic Ctdtu 

 vated Plum {Prujius domestical and all its varieties, as well as the 

 Bullace Plum, originated from the common sloe of Europe. On this 

 point, botanists do not agree. 



The Apricot-like-plum (P. d. armenioidesj or drop d^ or,) is thought 

 to be a hybrid between the wild plum and the wild apricot. 



The domestic cultivated plum is believed to be indigenous to the 

 south of Russia, Caucasus, the Himalayas, and to many parts of 

 Europe. Falkner makes it a native of Asia, and an introduction, 

 into Europe, of the Crusaders. 



The CherrV. 



The Common Garden Cherry {Cerasus vulgaris^ is regarded by 

 all ancient authors as of Asiatic origin; but whether it is truly in* 



