FRUITS. — VARIETIES AND CULTURE. 



335 



Long Hard-Shelled. — Nuts of the same size as the 

 former, with a larger kernel and better flavor; flowers 

 large and rose-colored. The tree is quite ornamental, 

 when in bloom. 



Ladies' Thin-Shelled. — The soft-shelled almonds of the 

 shops ; flowers are of a deeper color than the foregoing 

 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. 



THE APPLE.— {Pyrtm Mains.) 



The apple probably originated from the European Crab, 

 but centuries of cultivation and reproduction from seeds 

 of new and improved varieties have brought it to its 

 present state of perfection in quality, size, and beauty. 



Where the apple can be grown and preserved in perfec- 

 tion, it is the most useful of fruits. Varieties can be 

 selected which will afford a succession through the entire 

 year. 



They can be thus preserved in our own mountain region, 

 from which excellent fruit is brought as late as the month 

 of May. The best varieties are excellent dessert fruits. 

 For the table, they are prepared in many ways, as baking, 

 stewing, in pies, tarts, puddings, dumplings, jellies, and 

 preserves. They are also dried for winter use. 



The best mode of propagating the apple is by budding 

 or grafting on seedling stocks. For the raising of stocks, 



