The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1846-12-11
AGRICULTURAL.
Tmg PEACH TREE.-..Carssvnphy asd
H1lssssy.


Il is not certain in wha, par, Of the
globe the peach tree vas originally pro-
duced for although we have early &C.
counts Of It's being brough, 10 Europe
from Persia, il does not follow, from
thence, that il was one OF the natural pro.
duc.ions Of that country. Pliny relates
that il had been stated 10 have possessed
veuomons qualities. and tina, its fruit was
sent into Egypt by. the kings Of Persia by
way Of revenge, to poison the natives !;
but he treats this story as mere fable,
and considers il the mos, harmless fruiI
in the world that it had The most Juice
and The leas, smell Of any fruit, and ye,
caused thirst 10 those who ate Of it. lie
expressly states that it was imported by
the Romans from Persia but whether il
was Indigenous TO that country. or sent
thilher from region still nearer The equa.
tor, we have no information. lie adds
that il was not long since peaches were
known in Rome, and that there was great
difficulty in rearing them. lie also in
forms US that that this tree was brough,
from Egyp, to the Isle of Rhodes. where
il could never be made TO produce fruit,
and from thence to Italy. lie says, more.
over, that il was not common fruit either
in Greece or Natolia. No mention, how
ever, is made Of i. ~ Cato. Pownall, in
his "Roman Provinces" makes j. Pho
cnan importation to Marseilles; and evi.
IDENTIFY il was cultivated in France a! an
early period, as Columella, in his accoun,
Of this fruit, says:
"Th,ss OF small size to ripsn make grea. haste /;
Such a. gros, Giul bestows, observes due time
And season, rot too carly, nor too late"
The Peach 10 said to have been first
cultivated IN Britain about the middle Of
the 10Th century. Gerard describes sew
eral varieties VI il as growing in his gar
den, in 1897. Tusser mentions i, in hi,
list of fruits in 1857; and in all probability
it was introduced when the R,msns had
possession OF tina, country.
A .aolern writer on Climber Trees
and Frui,c," remarks that L" Tho facility
of raising lhe Peach from the stone ha,
probably tended to lis general diffusion
throughout tho world. This ftui, has
steadily followed the progress Of civiliza-
ton; e.a man 'from China to Peru has
surrounded himself with the luxury Of
this, and CT the o,he. stone fruits, very
socn alter he has begun to taste the b'es
sinrs -ei settled life. There are s,ill
spo:a -dhs.s ignorance prevents portions
Of the human iace from enjoying the
blessings which Providence has every
wh.ye ordained for industry; and there
are others where tyranny forbids the earth
TO be cultivated, aud produce its fruits
The inhabitants Of Haourn, who are con-
si.nty wandering, to escape the dreadful
exac.;ons OF some petty tyrant, having
nei.he: orchards nor fruit trees, nor gar
dcns for .hs growth Of vegetables. "Shall
we SOW for strangers :" was the affecting
answer OF one Of them to Burckhardi.-
"Cre RI he creates. blessings" con,in,
ues 10, ''lhai can be conferred on any
rude people, (and it's blessing which
will tring knowledge, and virtue. and
peace in = TRIM is 10 teach them how
TO cri,i;.ls !he7e vegetable productions
wk;s,i con,.i,use the best riches Of man
kind" At, traveller Burchell, rendered
sucn ] ,ery;c TO Tho Bachapins. a tribe Of
,h, interior OF southern Africa. lie gave
to i.-sir chief bag OF fresh peach Clones,
in quantity abou! quart; nor did fail,
said 30 benevolent. visiter OF these peo-
pie, so impress on his mind just idea
Of their value and nature. by telling him
tina. ihsy would produce ,rees which
would continue cvery year 10 yield, with
out iur!aer trouble, abundance OF large
frui. C. mcla agreeable favor than any
wL.-h ssew "a tho country Of the Bacha.
pin,.'-1rogas'a Tree, of .7merica.