THE PEACH. 



475 



SYNOPSIS OF ARRANGEMENT. 



The fruit of difEerent varieties' of the peach is marked with 

 but few distinctive characters. A similarity in outline, tex- 

 ture, color, and flavor, more nearly than exists in the apple, 

 pear, and some other kinds, renders it necessary to resort to 

 other points of distinction. The peach presents characters for 

 this purpose not found in other fruits. 



1. The Divisions are founded on the adherence or separation 

 of the flesh from the stone, distinguishing clingstones and 

 freestones; or, more prop- 

 erly, on the firm or melt- \ , i ir Vi/^ / \ 

 ing texture of the flesh, V // | A W A^ I \| 

 indicated by the terms /a- ^4/,/ yV ^ ^\M/ J Al 

 vies and melters. 



2. The Divisions are sub- 

 divided into Classes, em- 

 bracing /«/<? or light-colored 

 flesh and deep yellow flesh. 



3. The Sections are found- 

 ed on the glands of the 

 leaves. Section I. compre- 

 hends those whose leaves 

 are deeply and sharply serrate (or cut like saw-teeth), and 

 having no glands (or gum-like minute knobs) at the base 

 (Fig. 631). Section II. contains those whose leaves are 

 crenate or serrulate (with shallower and more rounded 

 teeth), and having globose glands (Fig. 632). Section III. 

 includes all those whose leaves are crenate or serrulate, 

 having reniform or kidney-shaped glands (Fig. 633). " The 

 form of the glands," observes Lindley, "as well as their 

 position, is perfectly distinct; they are fully developed 

 in the month of May, and they continue to the last per- 

 manent in their character, and are not affected by cultiva- 

 tion. The globose glands are situated, one, two, or more on 

 the foot-stalks, and one, two, or more on the tips ot points of 

 the serratures of the leaves. The reniform glands grow also 

 on the foot-stalks of the leaves, but those on the leaves are 

 placed unthin the serrature, connecting, as it were, the Upper 



Fig. 631. Pig. 632. Fig. 633. 



Glands of Peach Leaves. 



