296 HORTICULTURAL MANUAL. 



valley of Zarafshan, of which Dr. Schuyler says: "The 

 gardens constitute the beauty of this land. The long rows 

 of poplar- and elm-trees, the vineyards, the dark foliage 

 of the pomegranate over the walls, transport one to the 

 plains of south France and Lombardy. In early spring 

 the outskirts of the city, and indeed the whole valley, are 

 one mass of pink and -white with the bloom of almond, 

 peach, .cherry, apple, apricot, and plum, which perfume 

 the air for miles around. Nowhere are fruits more abun- 

 dant, and of some varieties it can be said that nowhere are 

 they better/' 



As this valley is on the 40th parallel, in the heart of 

 Asia, we may safely conclude that the varieties of the 

 almond will flower later than those of Spanish extraction, 

 and that the petals and all parts of the flower are less 

 delicate. It is also probable that the Asiatic varieties have 

 a better supply of pollen than those of moister climates. 

 It is naturally and originally a dry-climate tree, and long 

 growing in the moister air of south France and Spain 

 seems to have rendered most varieties incapable of self- 

 pollination, and they require intermingling to secure full 

 crops of fruit. 



The almond is grown to some extent in Florida and on 

 the Gulf coast, but not commercially. The tree is about 

 as hardy as the peach, and it sometimes bears full crops 

 where varieties are mingled or when mixed with peach- 

 trees. 



It is propagated by budding on bitter-almond seedlings 

 usually, but, like the peach, it can be grown on chicasa- 

 plum stocks. 



It may be possible to develop hardier varieties by cross- 

 ing. The Siberian almond is hardy even in South Dakota 

 and Minnesota. Botanically it is a true almond and bears 

 regular crops of true almonds scarcely edible. By crossing 



