The Florida agriculturist. [volume] (DeLand, Fla.) 1878-1911, 1881-10-05

by proper care and cultivation, as 10
be highly valued by the Roman pa
| triclans, and regarded by them as one
of their choicest Injuries, and as such
all Italy still considers it.
From Italy the peach was carried to
England about the middle OF the six
teenth century. and it IS still CULTS
waited there as an exotic, as it must
ever be; for the cool, moist climate
prohibits its general culture, and its
fruit can only be perfected when
trained against sheltering walls, or
under glass. Hence, in England the
peach is rarely seen except on the ia.
bles of the wealthy.
Even in France, whose climate is
milder than that of England, it can
only be occasionally perfected in the
extreme South without protection,
and hence its cultivation is confined
to gardens, aud the fruit, as in Eng
land, "tickles the palate" only OF tie
rich.
To the honor OF the United States
be it said, that it is the only country
in the world where either in ancient
or modern times the peach has been
cultivated in such quantities as to be
placed in the open market, and
brought within the reach OF all.
Here it is not only the wealtv, as on
the continent, but the poor, as well,
who may feast, at slight expense, on
the most wholesome and delicious of
all fruits, and every year its cultiva,
ton is becoming more and more ex>
tended, and its profusion at the mar
kets greater and greater.
Next to the United States, China
raises more peaches that any otner
one nation, but even there it is only
the rich who profit by them. The
Chinese, as nation, are great gar.
.deners, and originate much that is
curious as well as useful in this, as in
other other arts.
Years ago, while still the Chinese
were shutting themselves out from
intercourse with other nations, we
used to read accounts by venture
some travellers OF the wonderful
peaches raised in China; peaches
Of enormous size and strange shapes,
notably, one that has latterly be.
come familiar to some of US, the Flat
or Peen,to peach, and another that is
yet a stranger, the Crooked peach.
We hope that some of our enter.
prising nurserymen may soon get a
hold Of the latter, and introduce it to
the residents of Florida, for if it
flourishes here as vigorously as Its
sister, the Peen>to, we could not in
reason ask for anything better.
Heretofore, Florida, partly because
it is newly.settled country, has no,
done much in the way of peach
raising; but the few who have had
enterprise enough TO plant and cults
vate few trees have been amply res
paid, and the result of such intelli>
gent efforts is sufficient to justify the
assertion that wher Floridlans wake
up to the fact that "there's millions
in it, then their State will easily
step forward into the first ranks as a
peach grower. For the peach is a
native of mild climate; severe win
tiers chill its life.blood, and late
springs kills its delicate blossoms or
young fruit. Florda's mild winters
are congenial to it, and it we exer-
else proper care in the selection of
varieties, we need have little if any
fear Of our crops being "nipped in
the bud" by Jack Frost.
The peach, to do well, requires
care and cultivation, but given these
it will accommodate itself TO almost
any soil, and while preterripg a
clayey loan will flourish in the Sand
if Ihe CLAW he three. tour or even FIVE