PEACH: a fruit belonging to the almond family, native to Persia but now culti vated in all temperate climates. There are a great many varieties, capable of general classification under "White" and "Yellow," both types being again divisible into "Free stones," with flesh pulling free from the stone, and "Clingstones," with the flesh adhering to it.
The "Peen-to," in shape somewhat like a tomato, is a Chinese variety now largely grown in some semi-tropical sections of North America.
In addition to their consumption as a fresh fruit, vast quantities of peaches are canned, dried and evaporated, principally the first-named. Lemon and Orange "clings" and Crawford "freestones" are among the most popular types for canning. Dried peaches come from California, the annual product amounting to from twenty to thirty: thousand tons. The most widely sold of evaporated peaches are those from Delaware. Peeled dried or evaporated peaches retailed in cartons bring double the price of the bulk product.
Fresh peaches are imported from Bermuda toward the end of April and realize fancy prices at that time. They come from the South during June, and from New Jersey about the middle of July. The season is at its height in July and August and ends in October.
They should be turned over as speedily as possible, as they quickly deteriorate. They keep best and longest—if properly selected and crated, for two to four weeks— in a temperature of to 36° Fahr. Above that, the process of ripening continues and soon spoils them.
They should not be eaten raw unless thoroughly ripe, but in that condition they are accounted among the most wholesome and "safest" of all fruits for sick and well alike.
Among other commercial products of importance obtained from the peach are Almond Oil, from the seeds or kernels, Peach brandy, Peach water and Persicot (see LIQUEURS) .