812 [THE ALMOND 



SOFT-SHELLED FORMS OF THE SWEET ALMOND. 

 P. Amygdalus var. laevis Arc. (Maltese = /^ ( 3 > melliesi.) 



8. THE MALTA TENDER-SHELLED ALMOND. The 

 fruit is long and slender, the valves are thin and smooth. 

 The shell is thin and tender, often somewhat hard, and 

 rather dark coloured. The kernel is plump and full. 

 The tree is very productive. Comes fairly true from seed. 



9. THE SICILIAN TENDER-SHELLED ALMOND. The 

 fruit is long, middling or large. The valves are thin and 

 smooth. The shell is light-coloured, long, narrow and soft, 

 usually slightly curved along the ventral suture, with a 

 pointed tip. The kernel is long and plump, often nearly 

 cylindrical. The tree is very productive and fruits early. 



10. THE PRINCESS ALMOND. The fruit is large, 

 long, and rather cylindrical, with very thin and smooth 

 valves. The shell is very long, light coloured, tapering 

 and curved as in the preceding form, and is very soft. 

 The kernel is long, plump, of fine texture and quality. 

 The tree is very productive, and comes fairly true from 

 seed, but makes weak growth on own roots. 



THE DOUBLE-FLOWERED ALMOND produces no fruit, 

 and is grown only on account of its beautiful double 

 flowers which bloom late in March or in April and last a 

 long time. There are also semi-double forms of both 

 the sweet and the bitter almond, 



DISEASES 



The almond is less liable to suffer from the poison 

 left in the soil by other rosaceous trees. It is only in 

 very dry seasons that seedlings of the almond growing 

 in shaded localities, but weakened by prolonged drought, 

 may be subject to die suddenly in autumn after the first 

 rains, and then the roots will be found covered by the 

 mycelium of fungi, chiefly Armillaria mellea Vahl. When 

 the almond has well established itself and is in bearing 

 condition, it is practically proof against this disease. 



