Middletown transcript., 1873-09-13
The History of the Peach.

ARENAS Ward Is credited with the say
ing that when hc boarded at difiereu,
places, he always liked to eat hash. be-
cause he then knew what he was eating
Now that the peach season is opened. such
OF our readers as would like 10 know
something Of the history of that delicious
fruit, will be interested In the following
facts, which We have taken from Fulton's
work on peach culture:
The peach !. supposed to be native Of
Persia, and lis bo,anicn name refers 10
tha, origin Il 10 known 10 have four.
lshel in both Persia and China at a ycry
early period and was highly valued in
both countries II hrs often been found
growing spontaneously in Asia,ic Turkey.
II is mouiioacd by riiny, and several
other classical writcr-, and many auec-
do,rs are related Of the ycncra,iou aud
even superstition With which it was rc.
cnrled by the A,iaiics
There ia ~ doubt but i, was enc Of the
Trees 4 the Garden which God rlaut.
I'd in Eden. aai which were To n0ur,h
and cheer our FIRST parents in their pristine
purity nnl happiness II i nj mpn,iou-
y,
mand, j. mentioned several times, AMI ~
early as the days of Jacob .tni W. fnl
whom he was preparing his present fur the
governor Of Egypt, be commanded bis
IN IL AXE " msrrh, nuts ami almonds
y a eifi. Slnging the esteem in which IL
wns thnn hell Again. in the direction.
for milking the golden cahllcstick. among
the ornaments. the myrtle ani the almond
are mentioned as II he ehi6f
The peach like eiriIzatien i,self. tras.
elel from the centre westward int Eu-
rere. an,l We ind il mentioned il Roman
history IN tire reign of the Emperor tian-
lins. It W. highly valued hv the pa.
triarehs q Rome. arl vas cultivated Is
them as on IT their choicest llsuries
II is still standard tree IN Italy.
II was introduced into England frem
l'aly, abau the miiila Of tue lath eeu,u.
ry. aud has been cultivated there as an
exotic ever sinee llar caal. meis, eli.
mate. however. prevent. lis general eui,i.
va,iau. and ! IS ouly grown ~ walls nu.
der glass and the fruit - seldom seen ex.
etrt on the tables Of the ar,terraey.
Eren in frnnee. where tie climate i
much milarr. il is not always reared with
out protection and the ffui. has never
gone into general u.s., bnt i. . delicaey
confined II The wealthy alone. thu cutisa.
tien h,ins confined principally to gardens
In China it is extensively cultivated IN
the gardens Of the rieh. and has attained
an extraordinary size Bat Of their man
ner of Propagation aud culture bn, liaiz
is yet known, OWING Ia the exclusive
policy heretofore pursued b, TIN, ancien,
empire Now. since the amel,eralion
among the many other benefits haped f1r
more accurate aud complete knowledge
Of the peach is one
The Chinese are grcat gardeners. aud
much Affect the curious in horticultural ~
in oilter art., ani We may exrae, 10 learn
much that i interesting. il hit useful
We know already that they produce
peaches Of very large size. aud two. nj
least. Of rare shape-the Chinese Eta,
+ aud Crooked Peach With this heg.!.
ming. We will a.t be surprised at still
more curious developments The euriosi,
/ ", ingenuity ani enterprise of our eoen.
i irymeu will soon discover rhatcyer mas
bo known
|, is to our credit that tie Enite1 State,
is the only country in the world that. ei.
iher in ancient or modern times. mas pro.
anced peachs in sufficient quantities to allow
/ them to become 4 common marketable com.
modify !; so cheap, that the poor, as well n,
! the rich may regale themselves and ,heil
families with onc Of the must wholesome
and delicious Of fruits at very small cx.
pense. and with every psospee, that the,
i will be still more abundant anl cheap