804 



GARDENING FOli THE SOUTH. 



but kernel larger and better flavor than tlie preceding 

 Flowers large, rose-colored, and the tree very ornamental 

 when in blossom. 



Ladies' Thin-shcllcd Almond. — The soft-shelled almonda 

 of the shops. Flowers are of a deeper color than the fore- 

 going variety. Nut oval, one-sided, pointed, with a 

 porous, light-colored shell, so tender that it may be 

 crushed with the fingers. Kernel sweet, rich, and highly 

 esteemed. 



Bitter Almonds — are of several varieties, differing in the 

 hardness of the shell, closely resembling the others, except 

 in the bitter kernel. Blossoms pale pink. Leaves larger, 

 and of a darker green than the other varieties. 



A7nygdalus Per52c«— Peach. 



The peach is a native of Persia, whence its cultivation 

 has proceeded westward; but it has nowhere found a soil 

 or climate more congenial to it than in these Southern 

 States. Indeed, the peach is the favorite, and, in many 

 instances, the only fruit tree cultivated by our planters. 

 Kequiring a soil of but moderate fertility, its enemies and 

 diseases are so few, and the return so speedy, that there 

 is no excuse for being without good peaches. 



We entirely escape the yellows and the curl, I believe, 

 except in the case of northern importations, which gener- 

 ally recover, though checked for a season. The borer is 

 not very abundant, but is on the increase. The worm in 

 the fruit is very troublesome, especially in the white-fleshed 

 varieties. The borer can be prevented from entering the 

 tree, generally, by covering the collar thereof with lime or 

 leached ashes. If already in the tree, which is shown by 

 the gum exuding from the collar, he may be dug out with 

 a knife ; or hot water can be poured about the base of the 

 tree and into his haunts at any time, which will destroy 



