THE ORCHARD FRUITS 



201 



turally like that of a peach, except that the flesh is scanty, tough 

 and leathery while the stone is comparatively much larger. The 

 stone, or pit, contains the almond seed which is used com- 



FiG. 139. — The almond fruit is structurally like that of the peach; in contrast 

 with the latter the flesh is scanty and the stone larger. 



mercially. A third of the American grown crop is raised in 

 California. Almonds are used in confectionery and baked goods, 

 and in the manufacture of almond oil. 



The Citrus Fruits 



The Rue Family, which includes all of the citrus fruits, is 

 represented in the United States by 

 a few native shrubs and trees; turpen- 

 tine broom of the Southwest, prickly 

 ash and hop tree of the eastern wood- 

 lands. All of the citrus species, except 

 the kumquat, belong to the same 

 genus {Citrus); they are the most 

 widely cultivated tropical fruits in the 

 United States, growing satisfactorily 

 in Florida, the gulf states, Arizona 

 and California. Citrus species are 

 thorny evergreen shrubs or small trees 

 with aromatic foliage and flowers, 

 producing a type of fruit whose 

 leathery rind contains numerous oil glands (fig. 140). They are 



Fig. 140. — Citrus species 

 produce a fruit with a leathery 

 rind containing numerous oil 

 glands. 



