PEACH, Amygdalus Persica.
Khookh, . . . ARAB. Aroo, Shaft-alu, . HIND. T'au, Ping-t'au, . CHIN. Accusare, . . . . IT. Hoh-t'au, Sien-kwo Shaft-alu, . Pmts., TURK.
'FR Kardi, Kulloo, Aroo Pfirsiche, . . . . GEe. coton, . . . Sr.' The peach was introduced. into Europe from Persia, a country in which the fruit is very fine, and where both the free and cling stone varieties are known, and called Kulloo and Kardi. It has been supposed' to be a native' of the oases of Egypt, in consequence of its name, BullOoli, being probably the original of the old term apricoke and prcecocia.
There are two varieties in the Panjab plait* one, a round fruit, which is elongated to a point on one side ; this is called Noki (Nok, a point). The other is a flat fruit, like the Chinese peach, and is called Tiki ; the latter is much superior both in juiciness and flavour. At Kandahar there are two sorts, one small and strong flavoured, called Babri, and one large and luscious, called Tirwah.
At Kabul it is said to be preserved in fourteen different ways, with and without the stones, or the kernel left, or an almond substituted. It is generally brought in this state into N. India, under the name Khoobani ; the Arabic name is Mish mish ; in Bokhara, where they are particularly fine, they are called Bakur khani. In the Hima laya the fruit is called Zard-aloo, Chooloo, and Chinaroo ; in Kanawar the fruit is dried on the tops of their houses, and, when pounded, mixed with their meal. It is chiefly cultivated on ac count of the beautiful oil which is expressed from the kernels. These may also be found in the bazars, under the name of Badain-kohi, or hill almonds. The oil has a slight smell of hydro cyanic acid, and must resemble that from almonds, especially the bitter kind, or that obtained from Prunus brigantiaca. They ripen well and are of a fine flavour in Peshawur ; also in the north of India, with the well-flavoured flat peach from China. With care, it succeeds also in the elevated
lands of Mysore, Ahmadnaggur, and Dowlatabad. It is found Wild in different parts of the Hima laya, as about Mussoori, at elevations of 5000 and 6000 feet. In the district of Bissehur there is a distinct kind, called Bhemi by the natives, Persica saligna, Royle, which, though small, is juicy and very sweet.
In the vicinity of Shanghai is a fine and large variety of peach, which comes into the markets there about the middle of August, and remains in perfection for about ten days. It is grown in the peach orchards a few miles to the south of the city ; and it is quite a usual thing to see peaches of this variety 11 inches in circumference and 12 euncea in weight. Trees of the Shanghai variety are now in the garden of the Horticultural Society of London. In China, Yu-t'au is the nectarine ; Ping-t'au and Hell-Vail are names of the flat peach ; and the Kin-Pau is a yellow-fruited peach. The peach is supposed to be a modified almond under cultivation ; and though many hundred varieties have been produced, the peach and the almond are believed by Professor Koch to be of the same stock.
The nectarine is found in gardens in Northern India, where it is called Shaft-alu and Moondla aroo (smooth), though it does not perfectly ripen its fruit, nor is it known from whence it was introduced, though probably from Kabul. The apricot is very abundant around almost every village in the Himalaya, rendering it difficult to ascertain whether it be ever found wild, as the trees remain the only vestiges of deserted villages. —Drs. Wall. Cat.; Eagle, Ill. Him. Bot.; Riddell; .1. L. Stewart.