Account of a new Variety of the Peach. 141 



acquiring nearly their greatest state of perfection in the 

 climate of Edinburgh, and which would have become mealy 

 and insipid in the climate of Paris ; as the finest varieties of 

 the melting Peach of Paris become under the more powerful 

 sun of Spain and Italy. I do not, however, mean to give an 

 opinion, that the Peach is capable of acquiring the same 

 degree of excellence at Edinburgh as at Paris ; but I think, 

 that many varieties of it may, and will be obtained, which 

 will attain in the climate of Edinburgh, and in the colder 

 parts of England, nearly as much perfection as the same 

 varieties would attain in any other climate; and that the 

 fruit of these will exceed in richness and flavour that of the 

 finest French varieties of the Peach tree, when those are 

 cultivated in climates so much too cold for them. 



I have been led to this conclusion, by observing that the 

 Elruge Nectarine, which, as a British variety, acquires a much 

 greater degree of excellence at Downton ( where the climate 

 from elevation is at least as cold as that of Edinburgh, and 

 where the Red Roman and Newington Nectarines, are good 

 for nothing,) than in the vicinity of London ; and that the 

 early Red Nutmeg Peach attains a much larger size than the 

 delineation of Duhamel indicates, and a greater degree of 

 excellence, than I should have inferred it to possess from his 

 description of it : it has also always grown larger, and more 

 perfect, here in the open air, than in the warmer temperature 

 of a forcing-house. The Noblesse Peach also in moderately 

 favourable seasons, when the trees do not mildew, acquires 

 very nearly the same degree of excellence here, as in the 

 vicinity of London ; and I was hence induced to hope, that 

 by breeding from these, I might obtain others, as well or 

 better calculated for cold and unfavourable climates. About 



