INTKODUCTION. 173 



doubtful whether the Fersioa of some ancient writers is really the modem 

 peaoh. But there can he no doubt that some species of almond or peach 

 were well known to the Greeks. It is a beautiful legend that links its 

 early flowering to the fervour of a woman's love, and that woman the 

 beautiful Thracian, Queen Phyllis. The story is that Bemophoon, son of 

 Thegeus, when oast on the coast of Thrace, was hospitably received by 

 FhilUs. In return he wooed and won her heart and throne. Becalled to 

 Athens by the death of his father, he promised to return in a month. 

 Detained by cruel fates, which ever mar the course of true love, the lovely 

 queen pined and mourned his absence, until she died broken hearted on the 

 sea shore, over which she had wistfully looked and longed for the return 

 of her husband. Transformed by the pity of the gods into an almond 

 tree, her husband returned in winter, and, learning all that had happened 

 during -his absence, rushed to the tree and embraced it with such fervour 

 that the dead Phyllis felt and returned his love by bursting there and then 

 into blossom, though the boughs seemed dead and bare — a sweet legend 

 iihat may tempt some readers to plant their almonds, peaches, and 

 nectarines in plenty this winter. The Chinese, to whom the peach has 

 been known from time immemorial, connect it with the tree of life — those 

 that ate of the fruit of the peach were to live for ever. Another tradition 

 places the tree on some high mountain guarded by demons. Moore, in 

 one of his sweetest verses, makes the almond tree the emblem of hope : 



The hope in dreams of a happy hour 



That alights on misery's brow. 

 Springs faith like the silver almond tree. 



That blooms on a leafless bough. 



Exactly so. After a long and dreary winter, a time of bare boughs and 

 dead leaves, what more cheering or inspiring than a sudden outburst 

 of beauty from peach, nectarine, or almonds P 



Growing these trees mostly for profit, one is apt to lose sight of 

 and underrate their highly ornamental qualities. The profit need be 

 none the less though we first of all feast our eyes and refresh our hearts 

 with delicate colours, perfect forms, and n. prodigal profusion of their 

 beautiful flowers, which are second to none among the entire range of 

 flowering trees and shrubs. 



In favourable situations on light loamy soils the peach and almond 

 do well as standards, grow rapidly, and reach a stature of from 15ft. 

 to 25ft., and as much as 30ft. high. The habit of the tree is 

 generally somewhat ragged ; but' this arises largely from the total 

 neglect of training, and also not unfrequently from the overcrowding 

 of other trees. The trees, too, in many localities are rather short lived. 

 This also often arises from neglect. But were it otherwise, they are 



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