This book provides a comprehensive overview of almond growing from a scientific and horticultural perspective, covering botany, production, processing and industrial uses. Almonds are an important crop; they are highly regarded for their flavour, nutritional properties and culinary uses, and almond oil is used widely in food, cosmetic and pharmaceutical production. They are easy to transport and have long storability, facilitating global dissemination. Demand is constantly increasing and global production has more than doubled in the last 20 years. The popularity of almonds and the increase in demand has required new plantings and a response to ongoing changes in cultural and climatic conditions. Almonds: Botany, Production and Uses meets the need for up-to-date information on this crop and covers: * botany and taxonomy * cultivation, genetics and breeding * propagation, orchard management and harvesting * pests and diseases * nutrition, marketing and utilization Authored by an international team of experts and presented in full colour throughout, this book is an essential resource for academic researchers and extension workers, as well as growers, orchard managers and industry personnel.

"The Peach" provides a comprehensive up to date reference work, summarizing our knowledge of peaches and their production worldwide and includes an extensive colour plates section. Chapters written by international authorities address botany and taxonomy, breeding and genetics of cultivars and rootstocks, propagation, physiology and planting systems, crop and pest management and postharvest physiology. The book also includes a contribution on the history of cultivation and production trends in China with historical references dating back to 1100 B.C for the first time in the English language.