
          75

Article in 9th Ed. of Ency. Brit. 1885 by M. T. Masters says
there are two views as to the origin of the peach.  A. De Candolle's
that all varieties came from an original species native
probably in China, and Knight's view, supported by Darwin, that the
peach is a modification of the Almond.  "The peach is not known
as a wild plant in China or Japan" <s>Ib.</s> Masters inclines to
the view of Knight and Darwin.

Knight obtained peaches from an almond by crossing with peach
pollen, part on the tree were peaches the rest almonds.

In the valley of the LaPlata the peach tree is said [Johnson's
Cyclop.] to be grown for fuel.

De Candolle in Origin of Cultivated Plants (1882) Eng. Ed. 1884
P. 227 - 229, modifies some of his earlier statements, but still
opposes Knight's view (supported by Darwin), that the peach is derived
from the almond ( arguements botanical and experimental ) and
maintains that peaches are essentially Chinese (arguments chiefly
philological ).  Several varieties have ther been cultivated for 
thousands of years. Tao (peach) occurs very early in chinese literature,
no work in Sanscrit for peach, no reference to peach in 
early Hebrew writings, or Persian (?)
        