CHESTNUTS. 



851 



fiorticultural Society's catalogue ; fifteen are described in 

 Downing's Fruit and Fruit Trees. 



FOURTH DIVISION.— ALMONDS, CHESTNUTS, FILBERTS, AND 

 WALNUTS. 



Section 17. — Almonds. 



1. Sweet Hard Shell. — This is a hardy and productive 

 variety, succeeding well in the climate of Western New 

 York, and still farther n(#lh. ISTut very large, with a hard 

 shell and a large sweet kernel ; ripe here about the first 

 of October. 



The tree is very vigorous, has smooth glaucous leaves^ 

 and w^hen in bloom in the spring, is more brilliant and 

 showy than any other fruit tree. 



2. Soft Sweet Shelly Ladies^ Thin Shelly etc. — ^This is 

 the almond of the shops, of which such immense quan- 

 tities are annually imported from abroad. It and all its 

 sub-varieties, as far as we know, are too tender for our 

 northern climate, unless carefully grown on a wall or 

 trellis, and protected. South of Yirginia, we believe, it 

 succeeds well ; and so beautiful a tree, and so estimable 

 a fruit, deserve the attention of all fruit growers. 



3. The Bitter Almond. is hardy and productive ; 

 nut similar to Ko. 1 in appearance, but bitter, and only 

 useful in confectionery or medicine. Its chief product is 

 the prussic acid of the druggists. 



Section 18. — Chestnuts. 



The American or Common Chestnut is well known 

 as one of our most beautiful forest trees. It is seldom 

 grown a3 a fruit tree, although the fruit is highly es- 

 teemed. 



