Pistache (Pistachia Sweet; Pistazien Mandel)

Fruit, small, less so than the Sultana, about an inch and a quarter long, terminating in a blunt point, and covered with fine down. The stone terminates in a sharp point, and is about the size and shape of a Pistachia, hence the name; it is tender, but not so easily broken between the fingers as the Tender-Shelled. The kernel is sweet and well-flavoured. It ripens in the end of August.

This, of all others, is most esteemed in Provence and the southern departments of France, particularly when it is green, as being then more relishing.

Pistachia Sweet. See Pistache. Pistazien Mandel. See Pistache. Princesse. See Tender-Shelled. Prinzessin. See Tender-Shelled. Soft-Shelled Sweet. See Tender-Shelled. Sultan. See Sultana.

Sultana (A Petit Fruit et Noyau Tendre; Sultane; Sultana Sweet; Sultan; KIeine Susse Krachmandel)

This is larger than the Pistache, but much smaller than the Tender-Shelled Almond, of which it is a variety, and possesses the same delicate shell. The kernel is sweet and well-flavoured. It ripens in the beginning of September.

Sultana Sweet. See Sultana.

Sultane. See Sultana.

Sultane a Coque Tendre. See Tender-Shelled.

Susse Krachmandel. See Tender-Shelled.

Susse Mandel. See Common Sweet.

Sweet. See Large Fruited Sweet.

Tender-Shelled (A Coque Tendre; A Noyau Tendre; Doux a Coque Tendre; Sultan a Coque Tendre; Des Dames: A Coque Tendre et a Fruit Douce; Douce a la Peau Molle; Soft-Shell Sweet: Ladies' Thin-Shell; Jordan; Damen; Prinzessin; Susse Krachmandel; Abel-Ian; Princesse)

Fruit, above one inch and a half long, and one 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 plain 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 finger and thumb, and so porous as to be easily rubbed to dust. Kernel, large, white, sweet, and relishing. It ripens in the end of August and beginning 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.

Bitter Almonds

Besides the common, there are several varieties of 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.