PEACH. 139 
colour, and by the rattling of the seeds within the 
berries. They are then packed into bags or hogsheads 
for the market. When the berries are quite ripe, they 
are of a dark purple colour, and filled with a sweet 
pulp. 
Pimento is thought to resemble in flavour a mixture 
of cinnamon, nutmegs, and cloves, whence it has ob- 
tained the name of ' all- spice." It is much employed 
In cookery; and is chiefly used in whole grains. It is 
also employed in medicine, as an agreeable aromatic; 
and forms the basis of a distilled water, a spirit, and 
an essential oil. The leaves of the pimento trees yield 
in distillation an odoriferous oil, which is not unfre- 
quently used in medicinal preparations, instead of oil of 
cloves. 
150. The PEACH is a large, downy, and well-known 
garden fruit (Amygdalus Persica), zvhich is supposed to have 
been originally introduced into Europe from Persia, and was 
first brought into England about the year 1562. 
This rich and delicious fruit is highly and deservedly 
esteemed at table, as an article in our desserts ; and, 
when ripe and fresh, is grateful and wholesome, seldom 
disagreeing with the stomach, unless this organ be not 
in an healthy state, or the fruit be eaten to excess. 
When preserved in wine, brandy, or sugar, it loses its 
good properties. The kernels yield a salubrious bitter. 
Ihejloivers, which are very beautiful, and appear early 
in the spring, emit an agreeable odour, have a bitterish 
taste, and are used for medical purposes. The leaves 
are occasionally employed in cookery, but they ought 
not to be used without great caution, on account of 
their injurious properties. 
There are many varieties of the peach, some of which 
are much more esteemed than others. The mode in 
which the trees are usually propagated is by a process 
termed budding, or grafting upon the stock of some 
other tree (see p. 147); and, by this process, those of 
tiny favourite kind may be exactly obtained. 
