166 



PEACH CULTUBB. 



Fig. 28. — SLOBOSE 



QLANDS. 



is the presence or absence of glands. The glands are se- 

 creting cells at the base of the leaf, and forming slight 

 protuberances. Their secretions are often fragrant and 

 agreeable. In some varieties the glands are small, round 

 . and regular, (A, Ai fig- 28,) and are called, 

 in botanical language, globose; in others 

 they are large, irregular, and kidney- 

 shaped, (A, A, fig. 29,) and are called reni- 

 form. There is still another character- 

 istic distinction in the leaves of the white 

 and yellow varieties, and broadly mark- 

 ing the line between them. This is the 

 color, which is nearly as obvious in the leaf as the fruit, 

 and may be observed during the whole 

 f period of foliage. In looking over an 

 orchard, the yellow peach trees can 

 readily be distinguished by the yellow 

 tinge of their leaves ; and the experienced 

 planter can just as certainly tell the one 

 from the other by the leaf as by the 

 -RENreoBM fruit. These distinctions will enable the 

 planter to classify varieties, and to refer 

 any variety to its proper class. 



The blossoms distinguish the peach into two classes or 

 divisions also. In one, the flowers are large, red at the 

 center, and pale at the margin ; in the other, the flowers 

 are small, with a dark crimson margin. There are a few 

 varieties whose blossoms seem to possess a combination 

 of these characteristics, and are sometimes referred to a 

 third division ; but their distinctive features will hardly 

 justify this addition. 



To common observers, the fruit affords the most obvi- 

 ous distinction. Indeed, few, except the planter and 

 nurseryman, trouble themselves with anything else. The 

 multitude are content to regale themselves with the rich, 

 luscious, melting fruit, without giving a thought to tree, 



