28 THE PEACHES OF NEW YORK 



fusing and do not enlighten us greatly either as to the history of the peach, 

 or as to its pomological standing. Still, Pliny's observations constitute 

 an important landmark in the history of this fruit and we must give them 

 full consideration. First, let us give attention to Pliny's account of the 

 introduction of the peach into Italy. He devotes Chapter 13, Book XV, 

 to " The Peach " confining his observations to historical references but in 

 it so confounds peaches, plums and other trees that we learn but little as 

 to when, whence or how the peach came to the Romans. Since this refer- 

 ence is much quoted, however, despite its indefiniteness, we give it in fuU.^ 



" The name of ' Persica,' or ' Persian apple,' given to this fruit, 

 fully proves that it is an exotic in both Greece as well as Asia, and that 

 it was first introduced from Persis. As to the wild plum, it is a well- 

 known fact that it will grow anywhere; and I am, therefore, the more sur- 

 prised that no mention has been made of it by Cato, more particularly 

 as he has pointed out the method of preserving several of the wild fruits 

 as well. As to the peach-tree, it has been only introduced of late years, 

 and with considerable difficulty; so much so, that it is perfectly barren 

 in the Isle of Rhodes, the first resting-place that it found after leaving 

 Egypt. 



" It is quite untrue that the peach which grows in Persia is poisonous, 

 and produces dreadful tortures, or that the kings of that covmtry, from 

 motives of revenge, had it transplanted in Egypt, where, through the nature 

 of the soil, it lost all its evil properties — for we find that it is of the 

 ' persea ' that the more careful writers have stated all this, a totally 

 different tree, the fruit of which resembles the red myxa, and, indeed, 

 cannot be successfully cultivated anywhere but in the East. The learned 

 have also maintained that it was not introduced from Persis into Egypt 

 with the view of inflicting punishment, but say that it was planted at 

 Memphis by Perseus; for which reason it was that Alexander gave orders 

 that the victors should be crowned with it in the games which he insti- 

 tuted there in honotir of his ancestor; indeed, this tree has always leaves 

 and fruit upon it, growing immediately upon the others. It must be quite 

 evident to every one that all our plums have been introduced since the 

 time of Cato." 



Our author's discussion of the kinds of peaches and of their market 

 value is somewhat more satisfactory. In Chapter 11, Book XV, entitled 

 " Six Varieties of the Peach," Pliny again discusses several fruits but in 

 the last paragraph confines himself to the peach and puts on record the 

 first account of varieties of this fruit. The chapter follows in full: - 



' Bostock and Riley Nat. History 0} Pliny 3:296. 1855. 

 2/^(^.3:293,294. 1855. 



