174 THE PEACH AND NECTARIlfE. 



not expensive to purchase, speedily grow into beauty, and are therefore 

 readily renewed by planting fresh ones, so that there is Uttle difficulty 

 in filling our shrubberies and home woods with the showy blossoms of 

 these trees early ia the season. The leaves are also unique among plants, 

 and their peculiar form and shades of verdure add to the richness and 

 variety of shrub or tree scenery, whether deciduous or evergreen. 



The native country of the peaoh and nectarine, and the date of their 

 introduction to this country, are not generally known. The peach is 

 generally thought to be a native of Persia, and the nectarine is but a 

 variety of the same species, as is proved by their identiiy of structure in 

 all main points, by the fact that peaches and nectarines are found to grow 

 on the same branch, that fruits have come one half peach and one half 

 nectarine ; and that peaches have been raised from nectarine seed, and 

 nectarines from peaoh kernels. The nectarine, however, has seldom or 

 never been found wild, though the peach abounds in a wild state on the 

 Himalayas at an elevation of about SOOOft. The nectarine is also found 

 rather plentifully in gardens in Northern India. It was supposed to have 

 been introduced into Italy in the reign of the Smperor Claudius, and to 

 have come from Persia. It is probable that the Bomans brought the 

 peach and the nectarine with them when they took and held possession of 

 Britain. But if so, these, like many other good gifts of the conquerors, 

 were probably swept away and lost in the wave of barbarism and amid 

 the din of civil and social strife that overflowed England after the 

 retirement of the Imperial power. It ia known to have been in 

 cultivation in this country towards the middle of the 16th century, and! 

 has long been in general cultivation against walls, under glass, and here 

 and there as a standard tree. It is also in common cultivation as aa 

 orchard tree throughout the warmer parts of Europe and the oooleir 

 jiortions of Asia and Africa. It is found plentifully in Chma and Japan. 

 It is following the footsteps, or rather has been carried by our colonists, 

 into all new countries with a climate suitable for its cultivation ; and 

 large peach orchards are found in America, Australia, a;nd New Zealand. 

 Peaches in these countries are grown in orchards in very large quantities, 

 so much so, indeed, as to form food for pigs. 



But the chief use of the peach in England, and in most European 

 countries, is that of eating for dessert. For this purpose pea,ches 

 and nectarines are most highly prized, and justly so. For richness 

 of appearance, lusciousness of flavour, and wholesomeness they stand 

 unrivalled. Green peaches are also used for tarts. For this purpose 

 they should . be chosen before the stones harden, in exactly the same 

 state as walnuts are used for pickling, that is, when a knife passes easily 

 fhxoTigh the 'stones. Some persons are very fond of green peach tarts, 



