THE ALMOND. 151 



monds. It is the variety very common in the shops of the con- 

 fectioners, with a shell so thin as to be easily crushed between 

 the fingers, and the kernel of which is so highly esteemed at the 

 dessert. It ripens early in the season, and is also highly es- 

 teemed in a young or fresh state, being served on the table for this 

 purpose about the middle of July in Paris. The blossoms of 

 this variety expand at the same time with the leaves, and are 

 more deeply tinged with red than the foregoing. Several varie- 

 ties are made of this in France, but they are (as quoted above) 

 all essentially the same. 



Fruit two inches long, oval, compressed. The nut is more 

 than an inch long, oval pointed, one-sided, with a light coloured, 

 porous, very tender shell. The kernel sweet and rich. 



On the plum stock, in a favourable aspect, this almond suc- 

 ceeds, with a little care, in the middle states. 



4. SULTANA SWEET ALMOND. Lind. 



Amande Sultane. O. Duh. Nois. 

 Amandier Sultane. 

 Sultan. Tkomp* 



A tender shelled almond of excellent quality, with smaller 

 fruit and narrower kernel than the Soft-Shell Almond, but of 

 equally excellent flavour, and which is preferred by many. 

 It is thought, by Poiteau, to be scarcely different from the Soft- 

 Shell or Ladies' Almond. 



5. PISTACHIA SWEET ALMOND. Lind. 



Amande Pistache. O. Duh. Nois. 

 Amandier Pistache. 



A variety of almond with a very small pointed fruit, about 

 the size and shape of that of a Pistachia, enclosing a kernel of 

 a delicate sweet flavour. The shell not quite so soft as the Soft- 

 Shell Almond. This is scarcely known yet in this country, but 

 is worth further trial at the south. 



6. PEACH ALMOND. 



Pe"cher, > 



Peach Almond, \ Thom P- 

 Amandier-Pecher. N. Duh. Nois. Pail. 



A rather indifferent variety, nearly sweet, but often slightly 

 bitter. It is a true cross between the peach and the almond, and 



* We cannot follow Mr. Thompson in his nomenclature of Almonds, as he (or 

 his printer) mistakes the meaning of the French terms ; Amande Sultane of all the 

 French authors should be translated Sultana, not Sultan. 



