FERNS, FOSSILS AND FUEL 
sand years before the Christian era. Its native home no 
doubt was in far eastern Asia. 
Peach ( Amygdalus persica) : The ever-popular peach 
is another traveler, probably, from distant China, reaching 
Europe through Persia. The Greeks and the Romans 
adopted it into their orchards shortly after the begin¬ 
ning of the Christian era. 
Almond ( Amygdalus communis ): This is a cousin 
of the peach, but esteemed for its kernel rather than for 
its fruit. It appears to be a native of northern Africa. 
It was known to the ancient* Hebrews, and we see it pic¬ 
tured in the wall frescoes at Pompeii. 
Walnut ( Juglans regia) : The walnut has long been a 
favorite among the nut-trees. Before the glacial epoch, 
the walnut was common in North America and in Europe. 
It became extinct in Europe, because of the glaciation, 
but it continued to flourish in North America, as well 
as in Asia Minor, among the mountains north of India, 
in Burma, and in Japan. In classical times it was brought 
back to Europe. The Greeks secured from Persia an 
excellent variety of the tree and passed it on to the Romans. 
In India it had become domesticated as early probably 
as 150 B. c. 
Olive ( Olea europaea) : This is a much beloved tree 
of the ancient peoples. It is mentioned in Genesis, and 
110 
