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celebrated English Pomologist, Kniglit, regards the peach as an 

 almond become fleshy. By hybridation he ol)tained a tree which, 

 while it preserved much of its resemblance to the almond, pro- 

 duced fleshy fruit. But hybridation is not deemed a feir argu- 

 ment in this case. Mons. Fintlemaun reports, that when gard- 

 ener in the island of Peacocks, there were double flowering 

 almonds, which often fruited and produced fleshy fruit, the nuts 

 from which produced double flowering trees, whose flowers were 

 sometimes pale and sometimes good color. Such trees are at Char- 

 lottenburg, with very insipid fruit. At any rate it must be 

 admitted, that if peach and almond are specifically different, it is 

 certain that they do not constitute two distinct genera. As to the 

 other part of the question — Do the nectarines turn into peaches? 

 Mons. Koch, says yes, without hesitation. It is true that Decan- 

 dolle admitted a specific difference between them, and named the 

 nectarine (Persia lie vis) smooth peach. But there are in Italy, 

 varieties of peaches, with hardly any down on them; and we 

 occasionally find nectarines somewhat downy! not much how- 

 ever. 



The history of the Nectarine, (Brugnon,) in Europe, does not 

 ascend higher than the IGth century. Dalechamp, Matthiole and 

 Baubin called it Nucipersica — Persian nut. The Italians call it 

 now Pescanoce — Peach nut. 



It is curious to see in Japan, this fruit cultivated, and doubtless 

 very long ago. This fruit, originally accidentally grown, has been, 

 like most of our fruit trees preserved and multiplied by grafting. 

 Collinson, of England, (Westmoreland,) wrote to Linnceus, Sept. 

 25th, 17GG, stating this to be true, categorically. He had seen 

 large peaches growing on one branch of a tree, and on another 

 nectarines. It is common enough to find nectarines growing on 

 peach trees — but it is much more rare to find peaches prowiug 

 upon nectarine trees. 



Richard Willis, gardener of Mr. Harris, reports tluit a peach 

 tree of the variety called Chancellor, planted in 1815, first gave 

 its fruit in 1824 — produced on one branch twelve nectarines, and 

 next year twenty-six, and in 1826, thirty-six nectarines. 



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