Report of the Fruit Committee. 61 



clearly and accurately distinguished one from the other, might 

 be greatly reduced. The difference of the Stocks upon which 

 they are worked, and the diversity of climate, of soils, aspects, 

 and seasons, make such a difference in the colour, size, and 

 flavour of the fruit, that gardeners are thence often induced 

 to give a new name to an old sort ; and, singular as it may 

 appear, it is still no less true, that the size, colour, appear- 

 ance, and even flavour of the fruit, are by no means infal- 

 lible, nor even the best criterions by which to distinguish the 

 one kind from the other. What then are better criterions ? 

 Certainly, the character of the tree in general, the colour, 

 size, and shape of the bud, and particularly of the blossom, 

 and of the leaves, according as they are much or little ser- 

 rated, if closely attended to, are less fallacious guides ; but 

 the difference in these particulars, and pointedly so among 

 Nectarines, is so very trifling, that an attentive observation of 

 all the discriminating points is absolutely necessary to enable 

 a person to distinguish one of these varieties (if varieties they 

 really are) from the other. The difference of the taste of 

 fruit, from climate alone, must be very manifest to any one 

 who has tasted, from the common walls, the same kind of 

 each about London and at Edinburgh. The four degrees dif- 

 ference of latitude tell strongly in the flavour of the fruit. 

 The three degrees, or nearly so, tell also between Paris and 

 London ; so that it is very difficult for us to recognise here 

 several Peaches mentioned by Duhamel, from the descrip- 

 tion he has given of them. But if we go into the south of 

 France, or of Spain, or into the southern provinces of North 

 America, we shall find the melting Peach, which with us is 

 far superior to the hard one, become there woolly and dry, 



