AUGUST. 
169 
151. Saltan, Hort. Soc. Cat. ed. 3. Sultans, Dock. Central Obst. 179. Kleine Siisse 
Kraclmiandel, Ditt. Handb. III. 427. 
This is larger than the Pistache, but much smaller than the Tender-shelled 
Almond, of which it is a variety, and possessing the same delicate shell. The 
kernel is sweet and well-flavoured. It ripens in the begining of September. 
5. TENDER SHELLED SWEET ALMOND.—H. 
Synonymes. —Amandier a coque tendre. Amandier a noyau tendre. Bull. Arb. Fr. I. 
120, pi. 1. Doux a coque tendre, Hort. Soc. Cat. ed. 2. Sultan a coque tendre, Acc. 
Hort. Soc. Cat. ed. 3. Amandier des Dames, Acc. Buliamel. Amandier a coque tendre 
et a fruit douce. Cal. Traite. II. 215. Amande douce a la peau molle, Knoop Fruct, 
89. Soft Shell Sweet, Down Fr. Amer. 156. Ladies’ Thin-shell, Acc. Down. Fr. Amer. 
Jordan, Fors. Treat. 283. Tender Shelled, Ibid. 282. Damen, Dock. Central Obst. 179. 
Prinzessin, Ibid. Siisse Krachmandel, Ditt. Handb. III. 426. Abelian in Provence. 
Amande Princesse. 
Fruit, above 1^ inch long, and 1 inch wide; rather oval, at least more 
so than any of the other varieties, convex on one side, and almost straight 
on the other, terminated’ with a small point, and marked with a suture 
which is higher on one side than the other. Stalk, inserted in a plaited cavity. 
Shell, very tender, consisting of a network of large fibres, which are easily 
removed, because the exterior layer is more tender than the interior, so much 
so that it may be broken between the thumb and finger, and so porous as to be 
easily rubbed to dust. Kernel, large, white, sweet, and relishing. It ripens in 
the end of August and begining of September. 
The tree attains a good size, is vigorous, and bears well; the flowers are 
very small, and of a pale red colour, and are produced at the same time as 
the leaves. 
This is the Sweet or Jordan Almond of the fruit shops. It very frequently 
has a double kernel. 
There are several other varieties of the Sweet Almond mentioned by foreign 
authors, and enumerated in the catalogues of the continental nurserymen, 
among which is Amandier de Tours, which is the largest of all the varieties. 
The fruit is long and compressed, and the shell half tender. 
BITTER ALMONDS. 
Besides the common there are several varieties of the Bitter Almond, such 
as the Large Fruited, the Tender Shelled, and the Amandier d’ltalie, but 
as they cannot be regarded as esculent fruit, and as they are not likely ever to 
be cultivated in British fruit gardens, even as objects of curiosity, it is foreign 
to the design of this work to introduce them here. There is one variety, 
however, which may attract the attention of the curious, which, though not 
postessingexactly a bitter kernel, cannot be classed among the Sweet Almonds. 
It is the > 
Amande Peche of Buliamel .—This variety which is of no real value, is 
singular from being a hybrid between the Almond and the Peach, and possessing 
a great deal of the character of both parents. It is covered with a very thick 
and fleshy rind, which is charged with a bitter acid; but in some parts of 
France it possesses, in warm seasons, a considerable succulence and flavour, 
even in the neigbourhood of Paris it attains as great perfection as the Peches 
de vigne. The shell is very hard and thick, as much so as that of the Peach. 
Kernel, large, long, and pointed, yellowish white, and with a half sweet, half 
bitter flavour. It ripens the end of October. 
It is a very old variety, being mentioned by Camerarius, Gesner, Matthiolus, 
John and Caspar Bauhin, under the names of Amygdalo-Persicus, Persica 
Amygdaloides, &c. &c. 
I 2 
