ON THE CULTURE AND TRADE IN ALMONDS. 223 



Bhooj, principally for Europeans. The Goolabdanas, or rose-water 

 sprinklers, are, however, manufactured for native use. The silver and 

 gold used is very nearly pure. The principal artisans are Vishram Gold- 

 smith, Jewram Shamjee, and Heerjee Nagjee. The charge is at the rate 

 of eight annas per tola weight. 



Bangles made of jade from Mogoung, in the north of Burmah. The 

 bright green tint seen in these specimens is the characteristic peculiarity 

 of the Burmese jade, or precious serpentine. The Chinese have a perfect 

 mania for it, using it for Mandarins' buttons, pipemouth pieces, and 

 various articles of personal ornament and luxury. They estimate it 

 according to the purity of the white and brightness of the green tints. 



These bangles, though of good quality (they cost 125r. or 121. 10s., 

 and were obtained from the owner with difficulty even at that price), are 

 by no means of the finest description. 



The Chinaman who sold the bangles showed the Committee a speci- 

 men which he assured them woidd fetch in China sixty times its weight 

 in silver, and that the really first-rate is sold for as much as forty times 

 its weight in gold ; this appears incredible, but all inquiry tends to show 

 that the Chinese will give almost anything for fine jade. 



THE CULTURE AND TRADE IN ALMONDS. 



BY M. DE BEC. 



Almonds are objects of considerable commerce in France, Spain, and 

 Italy. There are two kinds, one bitter, which is obtained chiefly from 

 Majorca, Algeria, and Mogador, and is used in the preparation of liqueurs, 

 macaroons, and different medicinal compounds ; the other kind is sweet. 

 This last was perfectly represented at the Exhibition by fifty varieties, 

 shown by M. de Bee, Director of the Agricultural School of Montaurone 

 (Mouths of the Rhone). The production of almonds is an important source 

 of revenue, the more so as their quality is first rate, the atmosphere being 

 very favourable to the growth of the plant which produces them. The 

 exhibition of them has therefore rendered a great service to agriculture 

 in displaying at the same time the best and the worse kinds, and the 

 French jury has thought proper to reproduce in its official report this 

 nomenclature, which is the fruit of forty years assiduous labour. M. de 

 Bee gives the following details with regard to the different species of 

 almonds. 



Sweet Almonds. — 1. The shell very tender, easily receives the impres- 

 sions of the weakest fingers. This almond is known by the name of 

 Princess. Its price in the shell is about 40 francs the hectolitre. It be- 



