THE FLORIST. 141 



required, is to clear the root and the stock below the bud from every 

 sucker that arises. If agreeable, the shoots on the stem may be 

 encouraged, so that the tree forms itself into a pyramid. 



Very pretty and ornamenial trees for small lawns are the va- 

 rieties of Dwarf Almond, budded on straight Plum-stocks, from four 

 to five feet in height. The most interesting varieties are, the Dwarf 

 Georgian Almond (Amygdalus nana georgica) ; this differs but little 

 from that very old garden friend, the common Dwarf Almond, which 

 in some soils overruns the ground, so as to be almost a pest ; but its 

 lively pink flowers in March and April are always grateful. The 

 Dwarf White Almond (Amygdalus jiana alba) forms a pretty con- 

 trast to the Georgian Almond, with its snowy flowers : and then we 

 have a new species, the Amygdalus incana, which blooms a month 

 later than the preceding ; the under surface of its leaves is silvery, 

 and its pretty pink flowers are very ornamental. 



The Double Dwarf Almonds are now arranged by botanists 

 under the genus Cerasus, i. e. made into Cherries instead of Almonds ; 

 they also form very pretty small lawn trees. The Double Japan Al- 

 mond (Cerasus japonica multiplex) and the Double Chinese Almon, 

 (Cerasus sinensis) differ but little in their flowers, which are double 

 of a bright pink, and very beautiful j in their habits they are, how- 

 ever, more distinct. C. japonica has shoots the ends of which are of 

 a deep brown, and very erect in their growth, while those of C. 

 sinensis are of a light grey, and more diffuse. A new species, the 

 Single Chinese Almond (C. sinensis glandulosa), with single flowers, 

 is also ornamental. 



The Sweet Almond (Amygdalus communis dulcis) and its varieties 

 are adapted for lawns of greater extent ; — every body must know 

 the Sweet Almond, which, with the Cherry, Plum, and the Sloe or 

 Blackthorn, is so gay in March. There is a new variety, the Double 

 Sweet Almond (A. communis flore pleno), which well deserves culti- 

 vation ; it gives larger flowers than the Double Peach, and is really 

 beautiful. The Weeping Almond (A . communis pendula) is a curious 

 and remarkable tree, but it does not seem to blossom freely. 



The Large-Fruited Almond (A. communis macrocarpa) is very 

 distinct, and not growing so rapidly as the Sweet Almond, is desirable 

 in small gardens. The Siberian Almond (Amygdalus siberica) is of 

 the same dwarf habit as the Dwarf Almonds, and forms a very pretty 

 small tree grafted on the PJum-stock ; its flowers are pure white, and 

 most abundant. Nearly resembling this in foliage and flowers is 

 the Dwarf Colony Cherry (Cerasus americana), received recently 

 from America, as a species found in the Rocky Mountains. It 

 succeeds well, grafted on the Plum-stock ; is more vigorous and ro- 

 bust than the Siberian Almond. Its flowers are of the same pure 

 white, and its leaves of the same glorious hue ; but its fruit is widely 

 different, as it is a small black Cherry : it has been suggested, that 

 it will make a valuable stock for " dwarfing" the Cherry, and this 

 is very probable. The Double Peach (Persica vulgaris flore pleno) 

 forms a most charming lawn tree cultivated as a standard. This 

 •well-known tree is too often neglected. If unpruued, it blooms su 



