14 ALMOND. 



not be pursued to a profitable extent in the warm and 

 favorable climate of some of the Southern States. Especially 

 in the valley of the Ohio and Tennessee it would be likely to 

 succeed admirably." 



1. The long Hard-shell Almond is hardy, has a large nut. 

 Grows readily in the Middle and Western States. Its 

 flowers are large, highly ornamental, of a pale rose-color. 

 Ripens last of September and first of October. 



2. Common Almond, sweet, is also hardy ; nuts hard, of 

 agreeable flavor, but inferior to the preceding. Flowers 

 precede the leaves. 



3. The Soft-shell Sweet Almond, or Ladies' Thin-shell, 

 is the choicest variety for the dessert, and for confectionery. 

 It ripens early, and it is served up in a green or fresh state 

 at Parisian dinners about the middle of July. The blossoms 

 and leaves come out together ; the flower has a deeper red 

 than the varieties already mentioned. The shell is soft, 

 easily yielding to the pressure of the fingers ; the kernel 

 is sweet, and very agreeable. Mr. Downing has remarked, 

 " that on the plum stock, in a favorable aspect, this almond 

 succeeds, with a little care, in the Middle States." 



4. Sultana Sweet Almond. A tender-shelled almond, of 

 pleasant quality. The fruit is smaller and the kernel 

 narrower than the soft-shelled almond, but of equally rich 

 flavor, and even thought to be the nicer by some. 



5. Pistachio Sweet Almond. This variety is not much 

 known in America. The fruit resembles the pistachio in 

 size and shape ; the shell is not quite as tender as the soft- 

 shell almond. Of this variety Mr. Downing has observed, 

 that it " is scarcely known yet in this country, but is worth 

 further trial at the South." 



6. Peach Almond. This variety is considered as rather 

 indifferent. It is a cross between the peach and the almond. 

 Its fruit is somewhat sweet, but not unfrequently a little bit- 



