[171] De Candolle Or. Cult. Plants, 225. 1885.
[172] Commentaries on Dioscorides, French Ed. of 1572. 159-160.
[173] Parkinson Par. Ter. 582, 583. 1629.
"I presume that the name Nucipersica doth most rightly belong unto that kinde of Peach, which we call Nectorins, and although they have beene with us not many yeares, yet have they beene knowne both in Italy to Matthiolus, and others before him, who it seemeth knew no other then the yellow Nectorin, as Dalechampius also: But we at this day doe know five severall sorts of Nectorins, as they shall be presently set downe; and as in the former fruits, so in this, I will give you the description of one, and briefe notes of the rest.
The Nectorin is a tree of no great bignesse, most usually lesser then the Peach tree, his body and elder boughes being whitish, the younger branches very red, whereon grow narrow long greene leaves, so like unto Peach leaves, that none can well distinguish them, unlesse it be in this, that they are somewhat lesser: the blossomes are all reddish, as the Peach, but one of a differing fashion from all the other, as I shall shew you by and by: the fruit that followeth is smaller, rounder, and smoother than Peaches, without any cleft on the side, and without any douny cotton or freeze at all; and herein is like unto the outer greene rinde of the Wallnut, whereof as I am perswaded it tooke the name, of a fast and firme meate, and very delicate in taste, especially the best kindes, with a rugged stone within it, and a bitter kernell.
The Muske Nectorin, so called, because it being a kinde of the best red Nectorins, both smelleth and eateth as if the fruit were steeped in Muske: some thinke that this and the next Romane Nectorin are all one.
The Romane red Nectorin, or cluster Nectorin, hath a large or great purplish blossome, like unto a Peach, reddish at the bottome on the outside, and greenish within: the fruit is of a fine red colour on the outside, and groweth in clusters, two or three at a joynt together, of an excellent good taste.
The bastard red Nectorin hath a smaller or pincking blossome, more like threads then leaves, neither so large nor open as the former, and yellowish within at the bottome: the fruit is red on the outside, and groweth never but one at a joynt; it is a good fruit, but eateth a little more rawish then the other, even when it is full ripe.
The yellow Nectorin is of two sorts, the one an excellent fruit, mellow, and of a very good rellish; the other hard, and no way comparable to it.
The greene Nectorin, great and small; for such I have seene abiding constant, although both planted in one ground: they are both of one goodnesse, and accounted with most to be the best rellished Nectorin of all others.