14 PEACH CULTURE. 



Other remarkable tree was given. It was found in the 

 grounds of Monsieur Jubert, near Villeneuve, and was 

 trained on one of the wings of his mansion, which it 

 nearly covered. It was known, certainly, to be over 

 ninety-three years old, and believed to be more than one 

 hundred. It was still in good health and vigor, and pro- 

 duced good crops regularly. It was carefully pruned 

 every year. With this exception, it received no special 

 attention. Notwithstanding its great age, it had only at- 

 tained a diameter of ten inches a short distance above the 

 ground — not half so great as some of our trees in Dela- 

 ware, not half so old. 



The peach is propagated by seed, by grafting, and by bud- 

 ding. Propagation from fruit or seed is the natur;il way, and 

 the only source of new varieties. Trees produced from seed 

 are more vigorous, freer from disease, hardier, more certain 

 bearers, and live longer than when produced by inoccula- 

 tion ; but as the character of the fruit is uncertain, and the 

 quality generally inferior, this method has been altogether 

 discarded, except when new varieties are sought. Although 

 the peach may be grafted with success, yet it is so tedious 

 and unsatisfactory, when compared with budding, that it 

 has been totally abandoned for the latter, which now re- 

 mains the only means in use for propagating the peach. 



The Peach is supposed to be a native of Persia, and its 

 botanical name refers to that origin. It is known to have 

 flourished in both Persia and China at a very early period, 

 and was highly valued in both countries. It has often been 

 found growing spontaneously in Asiatic Turkey. I( is men- 

 tioned by Pliny, and several other classical writers, and 

 many anecdotes are related of the veneration and even 

 superstition with which it was regarded by the Asiatics. 

 There is no doubt but it was one of the "Trees of 

 the Garden" which God planted in Eden, and which 

 were to nourish and cheer our first parents in their 

 pristine purity and happiness. It is not mentioned in 



