4 TREATISE ON FRUIT TREES. 



is a principal feature that distinguishes the types and varieties of peach trees. 3°. twenty to 

 thirty stamens attached to the inner walls of the calyx (Fig. 5.) where they're coated with 

 a granular & usually colored material. Four to six of them are situated between each 

 indentation (FigA). Even though their filaments are shorter than the petals, the stamens 

 still appear to be quite elevated above the disc of the flower when it's fully open. The 

 flowers open to a greater or lesser extent depending on the type. The stamens terminate in 

 olive-shaped tips that contain a very fine seminal powder. 4°. in the axis of the flower 

 there's a pistil consisting of a rounded ovary, smooth or hairy depending on the type (Fig. 

 7.), at the center of the bottom of the calyx (Fig. 8) & a style the same length as the 

 stamens surmounted with a blunt stigma. 



The ovary becomes a fleshy & succulent fruit (Fig. 15.) whose internal and 

 external features distinguish the different kinds of peaches. They can be grouped into four 

 classes. 1°. those with skin that's hairy or covered with down & whose soft flesh readily 

 separates from the skin & from the pit. These are the standard peaches. 2°. those with 

 hairy skin but with firm flesh that doesn't separate either from the skin or from the pit; 

 they're called clingstone peaches. 3°. those with smooth purple skin without down & with 

 soft flesh that separates from the pit. These are purple peaches. 4°. those with smooth 

 purple skin without down & the pit adheres to the flesh. They're called nectarines. The 

 varieties of each kind are distinguished by their size, shape, skin & flesh colors, the 

 flavor, the time that they ripen, the depth of the groove or furrow dividing them 

 lengthwise, &c. 



The fruit is suspended on a very short stalk that inserts into the end of a cavity 

 (Fig. 16.) more or less deep depending on the type, & attaches to the branch above a quite 

 prominent support or enlargement. 



