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Introduction. 



We olaas these two fruits together inasmuch as — culturally, constitu- 

 tionally, botanicaUy — ^they may be said to be one. The chief, almost the 

 only differences between them, are those of flavour and finish of epidermis 

 or outer skin. Fond as botanists have been and are of nice distinctions, 

 the presence or absence of woolliness on the rinds of fruit and subtleties 

 of flavouring are rather too uncertain and inconstant foundations on 

 which to erect specific distinctions. 



The peach and nectarine are among the most valuable members of 

 the ligneous species of the great natural order Uosaceos, which, with 

 the apple, pear, plum, cherry, apricot, have been erected into the 

 more modem order DrupaceoB. The almond differs little from the 

 peach and nectarine, excepting in the thickness of the fleshy envelope 

 that surrounds the stone, and the sweetness, bitterness, or size of 

 - its internal kernels. The leaves of the peach and nectarine are also 

 generally somewhat larger than the almond. Both are included in the 

 genera Aimygdalms, and their generic characters are almost the same; the 

 nut of the almond being generally covered with a dry skin, that of the 

 peach and nectarine with a soft pulp. This distinction does not, however, 

 always hold good, as occasionally part or the whole of individual almonds, 

 have their, stones inclosed in a fleshy envelope, mostly bitter, but. 

 occasionally almost as sweet as inferior varieties of peaches — ^iu fact, the- 

 peach-almond seems a sort of intermediate or cross between the peach and 

 the almond, or an almond on the road of evolution into a peach. Still, it. 

 makes but little progress, and seems to have halted through all the yeara. 



