ROSACEA. 



121 



5. P. Persica, L. (IVach.) Calyx tulmlar, bpll-sl)ai)f'(i, 5 piirti^d. Petals 5. 

 Fruit either .smooth or toniento.se. Tlie .stone or jjil rugose or wrinkled. <»vate, 

 Hat, or compressed, acute, separating lengthwise when .struck witli a hammer, 

 inclosing a kernel nmch the shape of the horn}- shell, charged with Pru.ssic 

 acid. Small tree. Stem about four feet to the jjoint of raniirication, and 4 to 8 

 inches in diameter, forming a symmetrical head, from 12 to 20 feet high and 

 10 to 15 feet in diameter. Leaves lanceolate, serrate, shining above. Flowers 

 solitary, rose-colored, appearing in May. Fruit rijiens August, September, and 

 ( )ctober. 



The peach, as it is propagated from the seed, sports, and many varieties 

 occur. Charles Downing catalogues over 400. About 80 of these are suf- 

 ficiently constant to be relied upon. Of this number a few are clings, so called 

 because the ])ulpy envelope adheres or clings to the stone ; when the flesh 

 comes off freely, or .separates from the stone, the peach is called freestone. 



Var. laevis (Nectarine) is au important variety, having a number of sub- 

 varieties. It is a tree like the peach in form and size, flowers and leaves. I'he 

 fruit is glabrous or downy. 



Darwin considered the 



])each a variety of almond, 

 and the nectarine a form of 

 peach, and held that the same 

 tree has borne in successive 

 years peaches and almonds, 

 and that peach trees have 

 produced tiectarities ; also that 

 , the seeds of the peach have 

 produced nectarine trees. 



On the other hand De- 

 caisne and A. P. De Candolle 

 consider the peach and the 

 almond distinct species, each 

 possessing peculiar botanical 

 characteristics. 



Again, the home of the 

 almond is western Asia; that of the peach China, where it was grown centu- 

 ries Itefore the Chinese became acquainted with the almond. 



The peach is not at the present day found in a wild state, though it escaj)es 

 from cultivation, and propagates itself freely, especially in the southern parts 

 of the north temperate zone. 



Genrjraphy. — The geographical zone of the jieach is the southern half of 

 the north temperate zone in Asia, Europe, and America. 



In America, south of 40*^ north latitude and north of 32°, the ])each is an 

 important crop. In the United States, southern New Jersey, Pennsylvania, 

 and the states of Delaware and Maryland are largely engaged in its 

 cultivation. 



Efi/tno/ogi/. — Persira, the specific name of the /learh tree, is due to the 

 circumstance that the (Greeks and Komans received it from Persia. The 

 common name, peach, is .sup])osed to be a corrujjtion of the low Latin 

 name pesln. 



Flistory. — It was thought for some time that I'ersia was the home of the 

 peach, l)ut De Candolle. in his " Geographical Distribution of Plants." and 

 again in his recent " Origin of Cultivated Plants," shows conclusively that 



Prunus Persica (Peach). 



