PER 
afterward becomes a romdijh , woolly , ejculent fruit, 
with a longitudinal furrow , inclofing an oval nut with a 
netted Jhell , , having many ■punctures. 
This genus of planes is ranged in the firft fection of 
Linnaeus’s twelfth clafs, which includes thofe plants 
whofe flowers have from twenty to thirty ftamina, 
which are inferred in the empalement of the flower, 
and one ftyle. 
There is a great variety of thefe trees, which are cul- 
tivated in the gardens of thofe who are curious in col- 
lecting the feveral forts of fruit- from the different 
parts of Europe : I (hall therefore firft beg leave to 
mention two or three forts, which are cultivated for 
the beauty of their flowers ; after which I fhall enu- 
merate the feveral varieties of good fruit which have 
come to my knowledge. 
The Species are, 
1. Persic a ( Vulgaris ) vulgaris, flore pleno. Tourn. 
In A:. R. H. 6 25. Common Peach-tree with double flowers. 
2. Persica (Nana) Africana nana, flore incaroato 
fimplici. Tourn. Inft. R. H. 625. Dwarf Almond with 
Jingle flowers , vulgo. 
3. Persica (Amygdalus) Africana nana flore incarnato 
pleno. Tourn. Inft. R. H. 925. Double flowering 
Dwarf Almond, vulgo. 
The firft of thefe trees is a very great orhament in a 
garden early in the fpring, the flowers being very 
large, double, and of a beautiful red or purple co- 
lour. This may be planted in ftandards, and if in- 
termixed with other flowering trees of the fame 
growth, makes a very agreeable variety ; or it may be 
planted againft the walls of the pleafure-garden, where 
the beautiful appearance of its flowers early in the' 
fpring, will be more acceptable in filch places than the 
choiceft fruits, which mull be expofed to iervants, 
and others, fo that they feldom can be preferved in 
large families until they are ripe. This tree may be 
propagated by budding it on the Almond or Plum 
ftocks, in the lame manner as the other fort of Peaches, 
and fhould be planted in a good frefh foil that is not 
over moift. 
The other two forts are of humbler growth, feldom 
rifing above three or four feet high •, thefe may be 
budded upon Almond ftocks, or propagated by lay- 
ers ; they will alio take upon Plum ftocks, but they 
are very apt to canker, after they have flood four or 
rr/e years upon thofe ftocks, eipecially that with dou- 
ble flowers, which is tenderer than the other, which 
fends out fuckers from the root, whereby it may be 
propagated in great plenty. 
Thefe fh rubs make a very agreeable variety amongft 
low flowering trees, in fmall wildernefs quarters. The 
Angle fort flowers in the beginning of April, and the 
double is commonly three weeks later. 
I fhall now proceed to mention the forts of good 
Peaches which have come to my knowledge ; and 
though perhaps a greater number of forts may be 
found in fome catalogues of fruits, yet I doubt whe- 
ther many of them are not the fame kinds called by 
different names ; for, in order to determine the vari- 
ous kinds, it is necefiary to oblerve the lhape and fize 
of the flowers, as well as the different parts of the 
fruit ; for this does fometimes determine the kind, 
when the fruit alone is not fufficient ; befides, there 
is a vaft difference in the fize and flavour of the fame 
Peach, when planted on different foils and afpeds j fa 
that it is almoft impoffible for a perfon who is very 
converfant with thefe fruits to diftinguilh them, when 
brought from various gardens. 
The prefent confufion of the names of fruits, hath 
been many times owing to the bringing over trees 
from France •, for the perfons who are generally em- 
ployed to bring over thofe trees for fale, are entirely 
ignorant of their various forts, and do themfelves take 
them upon truft, from the perfons who make it their 
bufinefs to_ propagate great quantities, to fupply the 
markets of France, whither they are brought in wag- 
gons, and fold out in parcels to thofe perfons who 
bring them into England. It alfo happens many 
times, if they are received by right names, that thefe * 
PER 
in length of time are loft, or the trees come into the 
pofleffion of other perfons, who not knowing the true 
name of the fruit, do often give them new names, 
wdiereby there is fuch a confufion in the names of 
fruit, as is impoffible to redify , and hence fome 
perfons have fuppofed a much greater variety of 
Peaches than there is in reality, though as the greateft 
part of thefe have been obtained from feeds, fo their 
varieties may be multiplied annually, until there be 
no end of the forts. However, I fhall content myfelf 
with enumerating the principal forts now known in 
England, which are fufficient for any gentleman to 
make a colledion to continue through the whole flea- 
fon of fruit. 
1. The white Nutmeg (called by the French, L 5 A- 
vant Peche Blanche :) this tree has fawed leaves, but 
generally fhoots very weak, unlefs it is budded upon 
an Apricot flock ; the flowers are large and open, the 
fruit is fmall and white, as is alfo the pulp at the 
ftone, from which it feparates •, it is a little muiky 
and lugary, but is only efteemed for its being the firft 
fort ripe. It is in eating pretty early in July, and foon 
becomes meally. 
2. The red Nutmeg (called by the French, L’Avant 
Peche de Troyes:) this tree has flawed leaves, the 
flowers are large and open j the fruit is larger and 
rounder than the white Nutmeg, and is of a bright 
vermilion colour •, the flefti is white, and very red at 
the ftone ; it has a rich mufky flavour, and parts from 
the ftone. This Peach is well efteemed, it ripens to- 
ward the end of July. 
3. The early or fmall Mignon (called by the French, 
La Double de Troyes, or Mignonette :) this tree has 
fmall contracted flowers, the fruit is of a middling 
fize, and round ; it is very red on the fide next the 
fun j the flefti is white, and feparates from the ftone, 
where it is red ; the juice is vinous and rich. It is 
ripe the end of July, or beginning of Auguft. 
4. The yellow Alberge : this tree has fmooth leaves ; 
the flowers are fmall and contracted ; the fruit is of a 
middling fize, fomewhat long ; the flefti is yellow and 
dry ; it is feldom well flavoured, but Ihould be per- 
fectly ripe before it is gathered, otherwife it is good 
for little. It is ripe early in Auguft. 
5. The white Magdalen : this tree has fawed leaves 5 
the flowers are large and open ; the wood is generally 
black at the pith •, the fruit is round, of a middling 
fize ; the fie ffi is white to the ftone, from which it 
feparates j the juice is feldom high flavoured ; the 
ftone is very fmall. This ripens early in Auguft. 
6. The early purple (called by the French, La Pour- 
pree hative :) this tree has fmooth leaves ; the flowers 
are large and open j the fruit is large, round, and of 
a fine red colour ^ the flefti is white, but very red at 
the ftone j is very full of juice, which has a rich vi- 
nous flavour, and is by aft good judges efteemed an 
excellent Peach. This is ripe before the middle of 
Auguft. 
7. The large or French Mignon : the leaves of this 
tree are fmooth ; the flowers are large and open ^ the 
fruit is a little oblong, and generally fwelling on one 
fide ; it is of a fine colour ; the juice is very fugary, 
and of a high flavour j the flefh is white, but^very 
red at the ftone, which is fmall. This is ripe in the 
middle of Auguft, and is juftly efteemed one of the 
beft Peaches ; this feparates from the ftone. This 
fort of Peach is tender, and will not thrive on a com- 
mon flock, fo is generally budded upon fome vigorous 
lhooting Peach, or an Apricot, by the nurferymen, 
which enhances the price of the trees. But the bell 
method is to bud this Peach into fome old healthy 
Apricot, which is planted to a fouth or fouth-eaft af- 
pe<ft, and to cut away the Apricot when the buds have 
taken, and made fhoots : upon fome trees which I 
have feen thus managed, there has been a much great- 
er quantity of fairer, and better flavoured fruit than 
I have ever obferved elfe where, and the trees have 
been much more healthy. 
8. The Chevreufe, or Belle Chevreufe : this tree has 
fmooth leaves ; the flowers are fmall and contracted ; 
10 C the 
