Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1923-04-03
Weeping, Crooked and Other
Peaches
BY John T.. BOIFEUILLET

= INCIDENT to the recent Peach Blosson
Festival at Fort Valley the following Cd
- servations may be timely:
The apple is mentioned at least six times
in the Bible, but no reference is made IN
Scripture to the peach. And, vet, you Will
find in Genesis these words: "Out OF the
ground made the Lord God to grow every tree
that is pleasant to the sight and good for
food"
1t seems remarkable then that in mans
first and sinIess home on earth the privilege
and enjoyment were not his of behold1ng and
tasting the sweet-perfumed and fweet-havored
peach.
FREQUENT reference is made in the Bible to
the almond, which MANY botanists say has
close affinity with the peach-ln fact some
suppose the peach and the almond were 1den-
tical. The trees are much 'alike in habit and
appearance" You may remember readlng
that Moses went into the tabernacle; and be-
hold "the rod of Aaron for the house OF Lew
was budded and brought forth buds, ana
bloomed blossoms, and yielded almonds.
What Was 1t Eve Ate?
There is much botanical evidence to 1ndl-
cate that the almond is the source of peaches
and nectarines Darwin looked upon the
peach as modification of the almond.
If the almond of the Bible was the peach OF
today, was the famous Eve and Adam apple
of Paradise really the apricot? Ot course
you have frequently quoted the following SEN
tence from Proverbs "a word ftly spoken IS
like apples of gold in pictures of silver" But
some Biblical students say this cannot apply
to the apple as known to us, but they fairly
apply to the apricot delicious and common
fruit in Palestine. These Scriptural authorl-
ties take this idea from their statement that
the ample tree with which Americans are ia
miliar produces but poor fruit IN not coun-
tries" The compilers of the concordance 10
the Holy Scriptures are evidently not &C
quainted with the fragrant, sweet spIenolo
Georgia apple the product of warm cline
Golden Dwarf Born in Georgia
Did you know that Georgia was the natVe
home of the very curious and l1terestIns
Golden Dwarf variety of the peach! " o[is-
mated in this state many years ago. The 0ls-
tinctive popularity about this specimen is 1T
produces fruit when one or two feet hlgh,
hence it's name, There are several varletles
of this fruit, the Georgia product being the
most notable, and the Italian and Australian
following in notoriety and popularity
Far back in the ages of the past there came
out of China finally reaching America quite
curiosity, known as the crooked peacn' Tue
fruit being long and crooked, ana eAceeulnslV
delicious to the taste. Another rarity FURNISH
ed this country by China is the very curious
production called the ''peen-to"-a fiat peae H.
It's popularity is that the fruit is SO slnsuldrly
compressed that the two ends or the stones
are only covered by the skin, the flesh beng
all at the sides.
The Weeping Peach
William Reid, of New Jersey, was the orlel-
nator of the weeping peach, SO caneo because
it's branches hang down like those or a weep
in compliment to its promoter. 1t is great
favorite for lawns, as there is no peach Tree
more attractive and suitable for such purpose
| 1t is quite handsome
Other varieties exceedingly ornamental are
called Towering peaches, some of when nave
been produced with pure white flowers, Whl!e
others have come forth brilliantly coloreo.
There are several double sorts which produce
| a profusion of flowers as double as roses; one
of these, the camellia-fowered, is especially
| beautiful. Another peach that stands in high
favor in the ornamental class, being exceed
ingly snowy, is a blood-leaved or purple
I Ieaved variety 1t is said that it's leaves ap-
pear to best advantage in the spring, not re-
| tanning their dark purple through the sum-
mer. ,,
| The Original Source of Peach
| 1t is controversial whether the peach orig
| mated in China or Persia. Alphonse de Can
! dole. the celebrated Swiss botanist, after
| careful and extensive. Investigations, consld-
cred the peach to be of Chinese origin. In
his opinion it reached Europe = mans IN
strumentality via Persia, extending through
| the Mediterranean region and on and on 10
every warm climate. Naturally, though
! have never read that de Candolle Gald So the
peach at last found its true, rich and oeautl-
| full home in Georgia-a realm where it re1gns
! in finest form and color, as the queen OF
Fruits delighting mankind it'll its loVellness
and sweetness When the Georgia peach is
| seen then is fully appreciated the saying VI
the poet: ga thing of beauty is JOY forever
| The original source OF the peach has Deen
ascribed by various botanists to Persia, hence
| the specific name "Persica" given to the
peach. It was de CandolIe's view that the
seeds of the peach, cultivated for ages in
| nese into Persia between the period of the