THE ALMOND. 39 



try, or thirty to forty feet high ; flowers small, white, 

 produced in long racemes ; tender. A. orientalis, a 

 small shrub, with grayish or hoary leaves, and small 

 rose-colored flowers ; sbmetimes cultivated under tlie 

 namejDf argentea, or Silvery almond. A. incana (hoary) 

 is anothejr dwarf species, from the Caucasus, with Solitary 

 red flowers. A. nana and A. pumila are oriental spe- 

 cies of very dwarf shrubs, with either red or white flow- 

 ers. The double-flowering varieties of these have long 

 been inhabitants of our gardens. 



Properties and Uses. — For domestic purposes 

 the almond is highly esteemed wherever it is known, 

 and is employed in hundreds of different ways in the 

 preparation of appetizing dishes and dainties for the 

 table. In countries where this nut is in culti'?ation, it 

 is brought to the table in the half-opened green husk, 

 for at this time the kernels are just passing from the 

 milky stage, and are considered more readily digested 

 than later, or when fully ripe. But it is only when they 

 are fully mature that they are gathered for market, and 

 after thorough drying they are placed in strong sacks 

 and distributed among dealers in all parts of the world. 

 But only certain varieties are exported in this condition, 

 and principally those with very thin shells, because 

 these are most in demand, for the table and dessert, 

 where the almond is not a home product. Other sweet 

 varieties, whether with vei'y hard or very tender shells, 

 are cracked and only the kernels exported. The im- 

 portation of shelled almonds into this country is some- 

 what in excess of the unshelled, and as they are of 

 greater value per pound, the duty levied is proportionally 

 higher. There is also a great saving to the importer 

 and consumer,^not only in freight, but the extraction of 

 the kernels is done in countries where labor is abundant 

 and cheap. Whether the almond shells are used for 

 any purpose in European countries, or are considered as 



