^ ALMONDS. 



4. Ladies' finger sweet almond. 

 Amande des Dames. 



This is eaten dry, and cultivated as an article of com- 

 merce, in the southern parts of France. 



The nut exceeds an inch in length, is of an oval shape,, 

 and thicker in proportion than the others ; the shell being 

 light-coloured, porous, and tender ; the kernel plump, rich, 

 and sweet. 



5. Sultana sweet almond. 

 Amande Sultana. 



This resembles the amande des dames, but is smaller. 



6. PiSTACHIA SWEET ALMOND. 



Amande Pistache. 



Is similar to the last, but still smaller. 

 The two last varieties are peculiar to the south of France, 

 and are not in general cultivation. 



7. Princess thin shell sweet almond. 

 Amande Princesse. 



This approaches to the amande des dames in its qualities 

 and size, but has a much thinner shell, which is rough exter- 

 nally, appearing as if the outer part were removed. 



8. Bitter almond. 

 Amande Amere. 



Of this, which is the bitter almond, there are several va- 

 rieties, differing in the size of their nuts, which are dark co- 

 loured, with hard shells, and bitter kernels. 



Proj^agation and Cultivation. 



All the varieties of the almond in this country may be pro- 

 pagated by budding them upon the muscle stock, in the same 

 manner as directed for peaches and nectarines. 



Being natives of Barbary, their cultivation for the purpose 

 of obtaining fruit, cannot be expected to be successful, unless 

 the trees are trained against an east or south-east wall.* 



* Almonds Nos. 1, 2, and 8, are perfectly hardy, and will stand our most severe 

 Irosts without injury. Nos. 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7, are more tender; our winters gene- 

 rally kill the young branches, and sometimes the -whole tree. They wil), there- 

 tore, require protection during the winter. I have cultivated them for many years, 

 but could never get them to fruit well ; under glass, or trained as espaliers in a 

 vinery, there is no doubt they would answer well, or they may be trained on a good 

 60uth wall or close board fence, and protected with a covering of mats during the 

 winter. As respects their cultivation, the sweet almonds ought cither to be budded 

 on the hard shell almond stocks, or on plum stocks, which are more durable; the 

 plum stock ought first to be budded with the almonds Nos. 1 or 2, and the next 

 year they should be budded with the sweet almonds, working them on the young 

 nhoot of the almond near the bottom; the shoots of the sweet almonds are small 

 and delicate, and would not readily take at once on the plum stocks ; but by this 



