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CHAP. 11.—SIX VARIETIES OF THE PEACH.

Under the head of apples,1 we include a variety of fruits, although of an entirely different nature, such as the Persian2 apple, for instance, and the pomegranate, of which, when speaking of the tree, we have already enumerated3 nine varieties. The pomegranate has a seed within, enclosed in a skin; the peach has a stone inside. Some among the pears, also, known as "libralia,"4 show, by their name, what a remarkable weight they attain.

(12.) Among the peaches the palm must be awarded to the duracinus:5 the Gallic and the Asiatic peach are distinguished respectively by the names of the countries of their origin. They ripen at the end of autumn, though some of the early.6 kinds are ripe in the summer. It is only within the last thirty years that these last have been introduced; originally they were sold at the price of a denarius a piece. Those known as the "supernatia"7 come from the country of the Sabines, but the "popularia" grow everywhere. This is a very harmless fruit, and a particular favourite with invalids: some, in fact, have sold before this as high as thirty sesterces apiece, a price that has never been exceeded by any other fruit. This, too, is the more to be wondered at, as there is none that is a worse keeper: for, when it is once plucked, the longest time that it will keep is a couple of days; and so sold it must be, fetch what it may.

1 "Mala." The term "malum," somewhat similar to "pome" with us, was applied to a number of different fruits: the orange, the citron, the pomegranate, the apricot, and others.

2 Or peach.

3 See B. xiii. c. 34.

4 Or "pound-weight" pears: the Pirus volema of Linnæus.

5 Or "hard-berry"—probably in reference to the firmness of the flesh. It is generally thought to be the nectarine.

6 "Præcocia." It is generally thought that in this name originates the word "apricot," the Prunus Armeniaca of Linnæus. There is, however, an early peach that ripens by the middle of July, though it is very doubtful if it was known to Pliny.

7 "From above."

The Natural History. Pliny the Elder. John Bostock, M.D., F.R.S. H.T. Riley, Esq., B.A. London. Taylor and Francis, Red Lion Court, Fleet Street. 1855.

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  • Cross-references to this page (2):
    • A Dictionary of Greek and Roman Antiquities (1890), O´LEA
    • Dictionary of Greek and Roman Geography (1854), CYDO´NIA
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