448 
fruit is a roundish drupe, commonly pointed opposite to the peduncle, and with one longitudinal 
groove: the pulp is large, fleshy, and succulent, white or yellowish, sometimes reddish, abounding 
with a grateful sweet-acid juice; the outside is of a pale greenish colour, with a blush or tawny 
redness frequently towards the sun, and the skin is lanuginous or woolly ; the stone is very thick 
and hard, full of deep irregular furrows, and incloses a bitter kernel. The wood of this tree is of a 
reddish brown colour, darker towards the middle, and is fit for the use of toe turner. It is of quick 
growth, and not of very long duration. 
The original country of its nativity is not known. The Latin name of PIoliis Persicct indicates 
no more than that it came to the Romans from Persia. * It has been cultivated time imniemoual in 
most parts of Asia, has been adopted by almost every nation of Euiope, and now flouiishes abund¬ 
antly in America, wherever it has been introduced by’the Europeans. We have no exact tradition 
concerning the time of its first introduction into Greece or Italy; but no mention of it is made by 
Theophrastus, for what he says of the Persea by no means agrees with this tree. 
Than the Peach-tree it may be proper to observe, that there are few trees more ornamental in 
plantations, shrubberies, and wilderness quarters, particularly within view of the house, and in shel¬ 
tered situations, where they will display their beautiful blossoms early in the spring, about the 
beginning of April; when flowers, especially on trees, are particularly valuable. 
The variety with double flowers is highly ornamental for the same purpose, and is certainly one 
of the most beautiful flowering trees that will admit of cultivation in our climate, in the open air. 
It will produce some fruit, notwithstanding the flowers are double, but it is no value, unless the 
trees be trained against wails. The blossoms appear about three weeks later than the common 
Peach. 
We are enabled to ascertain nearly the introduction of the double-blossomed Peach among us, 
from Parkinson. For in his Paradisus terrestris , published in 1629, he says, 4C it hath not been seen 
or knowne, long before the writing hereof.” 
This author mentions twenty-one sorts of Peaches cultivated in his time for the fruit, the names 
of which are—1. The great white. 2. The small white. 3. Carnation. 4. Grand Carnation. 
5. Red. 6. Russet. 7- Island. 8. Newington. 9- Yellow. 10. St. James’s. 11. Melocotone. 
12. Peach duTroas. 13. Queens. 14. Roman. 15. Durasme or Spanish. 16. Black. 17-Alberza. 
18. Almond Peach. 19. Man Peach. 20. Cherry Peach. 21. Nutmeg Peach. 
Mr. Ray, sixty years after Parkinson, gives a list of eighteen different sorts of Peaches then in 
most esteem, the names of which are as follows:—1. The White Nutmeg. 2. The Red Nutmeg. 
3. The Troy Peach, so called from Troyes in Champagne. 4. The Isabella. 5. The Savoy. 6. The 
Bourdeaux. 7. The early Newington 8. The old Newington. 9* Violet Muscate. 10. Persicum. 
11. Modanese. 12. Morello. 13. Rumbnlliam. 14. Bellice. 85. Scarlet. 16. Royal. 17. Ricket. 
18. Bloody Monsieur. 
Mr. Miller enumerates thirty-one sorts as the principal known in his time in England; and 
which in his opinion are sufficient for any gentleman to have a collection continuing through the 
whole season of fruit. 
1. The white Nutmeg (called by the French, L’Avant P&che Blanche; Duh. n. 1. t. 2.) the fruit 
is small and white; it is a little musky and sugary, but it is only esteemed for its being the first sort 
ripe. It is in eating pretty early in July, and soon becomes mealy. 
2. The red Nutmeg (L’Avant Pdche de Troyes; Duh. n. 2. t. 3.) the fruit is larger and rounder 
than the white Nutmeg, and is of bright vermilion colour; the flesh is white, but very red at the 
stone; it has a rich musky flavour, and parts from the stone. This Peach is well esteemed, and 
ripens towards the end of July. 
