=The Peach Almond=, _A. c. persicoides_.--This is another old variety, described by Du Hamel about the middle of the last century, under the name of _Amandier-Pecher_, or peach-leaved almond. Leaves similar to those of the common peach. Fruit ovate, obtuse; husk slightly succulent; shell of a yellowish color, and the kernel sweet-flavored and excellent. Du Hamel says the fruit varies widely, even upon the same tree or branch, some having a dry, thin husk, while on others it is soft and fleshy, somewhat like that of the peach. As the almond and peach are of the same species, it would not be at all strange if an occasional variety raised from the seed of either class should diverge towards, or even pass completely over to a closely allied group. From the varieties found in the forementioned groups we must seek to find, or produce therefrom, those which will succeed in this country wherever it may be thought desirable to attempt the cultivation of this nut. So far as my knowledge extends, no attempts have, as yet, been made to produce distinct American varieties in the Eastern States, as with its near relative, the peach, but all the almonds thus far cultivated here are of well-known foreign varieties. Perhaps the demand for almond trees has not been sufficient heretofore to encourage very extended experiments in this direction, but I cannot believe that our people will continue for another century to import millions of pounds annually of almonds if it is possible to raise them in this country. That it is possible on the Pacific coast has already been fully demonstrated, but we want to see the field greatly enlarged, and give the people of the Eastern States a share in what is evidently soon to become a large and profitable industry. =Ornamental Varieties of the Almond.=--These are only referred to because some of the many in cultivation belong to the groups producing the most valuable nuts, but the greater part of the purely ornamental varieties are worthless for other purposes. _Amygdalus cochinchinensis_ grows to quite a large tree in its native country, or thirty to forty feet high; flowers small, white, produced in long racemes; tender._ A. orientalis_, a small shrub, with grayish or hoary leaves, and small rose-colored flowers; sometimes cultivated under the name of _argentea_, or Silvery almond. _A. incana_ (hoary) is another dwarf species, from the Caucasus, with solitary red flowers. _A. nana_ and _A. pumila_ are oriental species of very dwarf shrubs, with either red or white flowers. The double-flowering varieties of these have long been inhabitants of our gardens.