136 



THE PEACH AND NECTAEINE. 



These two fruits are classed together. They not only 

 belong to the same genus {Amygdalus), but the same 

 species (persiea) includes them both. The nectarine 

 differs from the peach in being somewhat less, and in 

 having a smooth skin, the skin of the peach being 

 downy. There have been instances of their being both 

 found on the same branch, and single fruits have been 

 found with the skin of the peach on one side and that 

 of the nectarine on the other. They may each be 

 arranged under two classes — viz., the free-stone peaches 

 and nectarines, the flesh of which separates readily from 

 the stone and skin ; and the cling-stones, which have a 

 firmer flesh adhering to both the stone and skin. The 

 cultivation required by the peach applies also to the 

 nectarine. 



There is considerable difference of opinion among 

 botanists as to the native country of the peach. Persia 

 has been considered by some to have been the place 

 of its origin. " Decandolle is, however, of opinion that 

 China is the native country of the peach. His reasons 

 are, that if it had originally existed in Persia or 

 Armenia, the knowledge and culture of so delicious a 



