148 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 
grows 6,000 hectares of Almond plantations ; that of Aries 600, 
but only 100 hectares are grown in that of Marseilles. The 
town of Aix is the centre of the Almond trade for the neigh- 
bouring departments, and is in the hands of about twenty 
different firms, and brings in about 3,000,000 francs a year. 
Marignane, Saint-Chamas, and Toulon are equally well known 
in the Almond market. 
A tree of the hard-shelled variety will bear about 20 litres 
of Almonds. The tree is at its best when from fifteen to twenty 
years old. One hectolitre of Almonds in the shell weigh on an 
average 55 kilos. 
The plantations of bitter varieties are hardy and productive, 
but never in any very great demand. They are planted along 
the roadside and round the outside of other plantations, and in 
places exposed to pilfering tramps, &o. 
The Cheery (Cerasus). 
It may be said that everyone likes Cherries in one way or 
another, either in their natural state or as Cherry syrup or jam, 
or used in tarts or other confectionery. Cherry trees are to be 
seen almost everywhere — as often in the plains as on the 
mountains ; tall trees as well as bush ones ; growing in planta- 
tions or as an addition to an orchard, or even dotted amongst 
the vineyards. 
The Cherry is suitable for commercial cultivation, and can be 
grown as a tall tree or a half-standard. It can be grown by 
itself or be used in conjunction with other things. When 
grafted on the Mahaleb it can be grown on poor and uncultivated 
soil. The comparatively early maturity of its fruit enables it to 
bo profitably cultivated even in places where an early drought 
forestalls the autumn putting a stop to all leaf growth. In the 
market Cherries are quickly bought up by the consumers and 
manufacturers, and also for household use. They are always 
in gpftat demand. 
Tie planter for profit ought, above all, to cultivate the hardy 
and prolific varieties, namely : — 
1. Standard varieties : The Anglaise lidtive, Belle de Choisyj 
Montmorency, Franchc, Belle de Chatenay, Beine IlortcnsCy 
and Lemcrcier. Of the black sorts, dii Nord and Griotte noire. 
