240 
island. The bitter — (Amygdalus communis) is called lewz morr ; 
the sweet almond, with a hard shell, is called Zewz helu, and that. with 
w 
comfits, and the like. Formerly the almond was extensively grown. 
It requires but little care; it blossoms in January, and ripens its fruit 
The “Apr ricot (Prunus armeniaca) is called berqùq or berkuk, of 
br four varieties are sent to market: (a) berkuk ta Meju, May 
to 24d. per Ib. A variety, E a very small exquisite Bail. now 
only ültivatod in the Botanie Gardens, was formerly widely grown. 
It «eu ne long, and is an abundant bearer, called berkuk ta santa 
round, rer compressed, dark i venis al jee oe with a 
whitish bloom, gratefully subacid. It is becoming a popular dessert 
fruit, which ripens in August, and sells from 1d. to 23d. to D. 
The blackthorn (Prunus spinosa), € led prayn, is grown to per 
eme varieties of peaches, nectarines, and plums, which ie Lad 
upon 
Plums (Prunus domestica), called g hanbakar, succeed remarkably 
well; they are abundantly cultivated, especially in Gozo. Several 
nz (a att, 
sparingly cultivated, is a first rate dessert fruit, deep yellow, ripening 
“a c end of August. It is pear-shaped, the flesh adhering to the 
; (b) greengages, ghanbakar abiat, are also plentiful; August, 
Beatae ld. to 2}d. per lb.; the pruna dei frati from 2d. to Ad. 
per Ib. 
As far as we can learn of the true service tree (Pyrus "— 
known here as peces only a vmm are cultivated, which produce pear 
— es fruits of a medium ity. 
is to se “regretted that — are here cultivated only as a 
‘onan ne sort we have seen grows vigorously, and is very 
oe the fruit is large, deep p purple, ec and sweet, May to 
mene rows Granatum (calle PR anos in Malta), are 
dnd 
thrive ad 
cultivated, differing the one from the other by the colour and size of 
the fruit, and of the seeds: (a) one of these varieties has been called 
melitensis, the fruit of which is red and round, slightly depressed, with 
a thick rind, and large red seeds covered w ith a a very sweet agreeable 
pulp, which variety, from the size of the seeds, is called smén n el nette 
that is mule's teeth, and in Italy, * Me ek. di Malta"; (b) a 
variety is called rummien ta San Guisepp, the seeds of jT are a god 
smaller than those of the * Melitensis "; (c) rummien francis, or 
