CHESTNUTS. oo. 



Horticultural Society's catalogue ; fifteen are described in 



Downing's Fruit and Fruit Trees. 



FOURTH DIVISION.— ALMONDS, CHESTNUTS, FILBERTS, AND 



WALNUTS. 



Section 17. — Almonds. 



1. Sweet Jlard Shell. — This is a hardy and productive 

 variety, succeeding well in the climate of "Western New 

 York, and still farther north. ]^ut very large, with a hard 

 shell and a large sweet kernel ; ripe here about the first 

 of October. 



The tree is very vigorous, has smooth glaucous leaves, 

 and when in bloom in the spring, is more brilliant and 

 showy than any other fruit tree. 



2. Soft Sweet Shelly Ladies' Thin Shelly etc. — ^This is 

 the almond of the shops, of wdiich such immense quan- 

 tities are annually imported from abroad. It and all its 

 sub-varieties, as far as we know, are too tender for our 

 northern climate, unless carefully grown on a wall or 

 trellis, and protected. South of Virginia, we believe, it 

 succeeds well ; and so beautiful a tree, and so estimable 

 a fruit, deserve the attention of all fruit growers. 



3. The Bitter Almond.- -T\ii^ is hardy and productive ; 

 nut similar to No. 1 in appearance, but bitter, and only 

 useful in confectionery or medicine. Its chief product is 

 the prussic acid of the druggists. 



Section 18. — Chestnuts. 



The American or Common Chestmit is well known 

 as one of our most beautiful forest trees. It is seldom 

 grown as a fruit tree, although the fruit is highly es- 

 teeme ^ . 



