158 ALMONDS. 



it must be attributed to a most advantageous location, or to a 

 very favourable season. As the almond can, however, be culti- 

 vated very profitably in Virginia, it is probable that but few 

 years will elapse ere extensive orchards are planted in that 

 state for supplying our citizens with a fruit which is now im- 

 ported in such great quantities. 



COMMON BITTER HARDSHELL. Pk. cat. 



Tliis tree has leaves of greater length and of a darker green 

 than most of the sweet fruited varieties ; the flowers are also 

 of much larger size, and make a greater show when the tree is 

 in bloom, which takes place before the blossoms of peach trees 

 have expanded, and about the same period as the Apricot. 

 The drupe is oblong, and terminates in a long acute point. 

 The tree is very productive, and the fruit ripens regularly in 

 the gardens of this vicinity. There is quite an extensive 

 consumption of this fruit in the confectionary establishments 

 of our cities. 



LARGE BITTER HARDSHELL. Pr. cat. 

 Grosse Cassante. 



The fruit of this variety bears considerable resemblance to 

 the preceding, and so does the growth of the tree ; but on a 

 close comparison of the latter, it will be perceived to be differ- 

 ent ; the leaves are long, and the flowers of large size and 

 sliowy ; the fruit, like tlie foregoing one, has a hard shell and 

 a bitter kernel, as its name indicates. 



SMALL BITTER ALMOND. AuTii. 



Duhamel states that this variety has much smaller fruit 

 than the one previously described, it being but an inch in 

 length, and seven lines in diameter. The flowers also distin- 

 guish it ; they are seventeen to eighteen lines in breadth, and 

 the petals are very narrow in proportion to their length, the 

 latter measuring eight and a half lines, while their width is but 

 five and a half; they are deeply cleft, and slightly tinged with 

 red at the base. 



