THE PEACHES OF NEW YORK 8l 



from which could be evolved a late-blooming almond is a consummation 

 to be wished. 



THE NECTARINE 



The nectarine is a hairless peach. The tree differs in no respect from 

 that of the peach and besides the absence of pubescence the only other 

 distinguishing marks between the fruits are smaller size, firmer flesh, greater 

 aroma and a distinct and richer flavor in nectarines. Even the varieties 

 of the two fruits correspond in characters. Thus, there are clingstone and 

 freestone sorts of each; both ma}^ have red, yellow, or white flesh; the 

 flowers of both may be large or small; nectarine leaves, in one variety or 

 another, show all the variations in glands and serrations known to the 

 peach; and the stones and kernels are indistinguishable. There seem to 

 be no records so far, however, of flat or beaked nectarines, abnormalities 

 each represented in several varieties of peaches. The two fruits are adapted 

 to the same soil and climatic conditions and wherever the peach is grown, 

 the world over, the nectarine is found. 



The established history of the nectarine goes back 2000 years and 

 then merges into that of the peach. Despite the fact that De CandoUe • 

 " sought in vain for a proof that the nectarine existed in Italy in the time 

 of ancient Rome," we are convinced that Pliny's " duracinus " is the 

 nectarine. Matthiolus = in 1554 discusses Pliny's statements concerning 

 the kinds of peaches at length and concludes that the author's " duracinus " 

 is the peach. Dalechamp, in 1587, and J. Bauhin, in 1650, both describe 

 nectarines after which botanists and pomologists invariably include this 

 fruit. In the Sixteenth and Seventeenth Centuries the nectarine was 

 called " nucipersica " because it resembled in smoothness and color of the 

 outer skin as well as in size and shape, the walnut. " Nectarine," the 

 meaning of the word obvious, appears first to have been used for this fruit, 

 in the English language at least, by Parkinson in 1629 who describes six 

 varieties ^ and g ives us the information " they have been with us not many 



■ Dc Candolle Or. Cult. Plants, 225. 1885. 



■ Commentaries on Dioscorides, French Ed. of 1572. 159-160. 

 ' Parkinson Par. Ter. 582, 583. 1629. 



" I presume that the name Nucipersica doth most rightly belong unto that kinde of Peach, which 

 we call Nectorins, and although they have beene with us not many yeares, yet have they beene knowne 

 both in Italy to Matthiolus, and others before him, who it seemeth knew no other then the yeUow Nectorin, 

 as Dalechampius also: But we at this day doe know five severall sorts of Nectorins, as they shall be 

 presently set downe; and as in the former fruits, so in this, I will give you the description of one, and 

 briefe notes of the rest. 



"The Nectorin is a tree of no great bignesse, most usually lesser then the Peach tree, his body and 



