The Natural History of Pliny, Volume 3 · the Elder Pliny
CHAP. 13.—THE PEACH.
The name of “Persica,” or “Persian apple,” given to this fruit, fully proves that it is an exotic in both Greece as well as Asia,[1784] and that it was first introduced from Persis. As to the wild plum, it is a well-known fact that it will grow anywhere; and I am, therefore, the more surprised that no mention has been made of it by Cato, more particularly as he has pointed out the method of preserving several of the wild fruits as well. As to the peach-tree, it has been only introduced of late years, and with considerable difficulty; so much so, that it is perfectly barren in the Isle of Rhodes, the first resting-place[1785] that it found after leaving Egypt. It is quite untrue that the peach which grows in Persia is poisonous, and produces dreadful tortures, or that the kings of that country, from motives of revenge, had it transplanted in Egypt, where, through the nature of the soil, it lost all its evil properties—for we find that it is of the “persea”[1786] that the more careful writers have stated all this,[1787] a totally different tree, the fruit of which resembles the red myxa, and, indeed, cannot be successfully cultivated anywhere but in the East. The learned have also maintained that it was not introduced from Persis into Egypt with the view of inflicting punishment, but say that it was planted at Memphis by Perseus; for which reason it was that Alexander gave orders that the victors should be crowned with it in the games which he instituted there in honour of his[1788] ancestor: indeed, this tree has always leaves and fruit upon it, growing immediately upon the others. It must be quite evident to every one that all our plums have been introduced since the time of Cato.[1789]
CHAP. 14. (14.)—THIRTY DIFFERENT KINDS OF POMES. AT WHAT PERIOD FOREIGN FRUITS WERE FIRST INTRODUCED INTO ITALY, AND WHENCE. There are numerous varieties of pomes. Of the citron[1790] we have already made mention when describing its tree; the Greeks gave it the name of “Medica,”[1791] from its native country. The jujube[1792]-tree and the tuber[1793] are equally exotics; indeed, they have, both of them, been introduced only of late years into Italy; the latter from Africa, the former from Syria. Sextus Papinius, whom we have seen consul,[1794] introduced them both in the latter years of the reign of Augustus, produced from slips which he had grown within his camp. The fruit of the jujube more nearly resembles a berry than an apple: the tree sets off a terrace[1795] remarkably well, and it is not uncommon to see whole woods of it climbing up to the very roofs of the houses. Of the tuber there are two varieties; the white, and the one called “syricum,”[1796] from its colour. Those fruits, too, may be almost pronounced exotic which grow nowhere in Italy but in the territory of Verona, and are known as the wool-fruit.[1797] They are covered with a woolly down; this is found, it is true, to a very considerable extent, on both the strutheum variety of quince and the peach, but still it has given its name to this particular fruit, which is recommended to us by no other remarkable quality.
CHAP. 15.—THE FRUITS THAT HAVE BEEN MOST RECENTLY INTRODUCED. Why should I hesitate to make some mention, too, of other varieties by name, seeing that they have conferred everlasting remembrance on those who were the first to introduce them, as having rendered some service to their fellow-men? Unless I am very much mistaken, an enumeration of them will tend to throw some light upon the ingenuity that is displayed in the art of grafting, and it will be the more easily understood that there is nothing so trifling in itself from which a certain amount of celebrity cannot be ensured. Hence it is that we have fruits which derive their names from Matius,[1798] Cestius, Mallius, and Scandius.[1799] Appius, too, a member of the Claudian family, grafted the quince on the Scandian fruit, in consequence of which the produce is known as the Appian. This fruit has the smell of the quince, and is of the same size as the Scandian apple, and of a ruddy colour. Let no one, however, imagine that this name was merely given in a spirit of flattery to an illustrious family, for there is an apple known as the Sceptian,[1800] which owes its name to the son of a freedman, who was the first to introduce it: it is remarkable for the roundness of its shape. To those already mentioned, Cato[1801] adds the Quirinian and the Scantian varieties, which last, he says, keep remarkably well in large vessels.[1802] The latest kind of all, however, that has been introduced is the small apple known as the Petisian,[1803] remarkable for its delightful flavour: the Amerinian[1804] apple, too, and the little Greek[1805] have conferred renown on their respective countries.
The remaining varieties have received their name from various circumstances—the apples known as the “gemella”[1806] are always found hanging in pairs upon one stalk, like twins, and never growing singly. That known as the “syricum”[1807] is so called from its colour, while the “melapium”[1808] has its name from its strong resemblance to the pear. The “musteum”[1809] was so called from the rapidity with which it ripens; it is the melimelum of the present day, which derives its appellation from its flavour, being like that of honey. The “orbiculatum,”[1810] again, is so called from its shape, which is exactly spherical—the circumstance of the Greeks having called it the “epiroticum” proves that it came originally from Epirus. The orthomastium[1811] has that peculiar appellation from its resemblance to a teat; and the “spadonium”[1812] of the Belgæ is so nicknamed from the total absence of pips. The melofolium[1813] has one leaf, and occasionally two, shooting from the middle of the fruit. That known as the “pannuceum”[1814] shrivels with the greatest rapidity; while the “pulmoneum”[1815] has a lumpish, swollen appearance. Some apples are just the colour of blood, owing to an original graft of the mulberry; but they are all of them red on the side which is turned towards the sun. There are some small wild[1816] apples also, remarkable for their fine flavour and the peculiar pungency of their smell. Some, again, are so remarkably[1817] sour, that they are held in disesteem; indeed their acidity is so extreme, that it will even take the edge from off a knife. The worst apples of all are those which from their mealiness have received the name of “farinacea;”[1818] they are the first, however, to ripen, and ought to be gathered as soon as possible.
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