256 FOREST CULTURE AND 
This bush or tree will live in sandsoil ; but it is one 
of those hardy kinds particularly eligible for our alps. 
Amygdalus communis, L.— The Almond - tree, 
Countries around the Mediterranean Sea and Orient. 
Both the sweet and bitter almond are derived from 
this species. Their uses, and the value of the highly 
palatable oil, obtained by pressure from them, are 
well known. ‘This oil can well be chosen as a means 
of providing a pleasant substitute for milk, during 
sea voyages, etc., by mixing, when required, with it 
half its weight of powdered gum arabic, and adding 
then, successively, while quickly agitating in a stone 
mortar, about double the quantity of water. Thus a 
palatable and wholesome sort of cream, for tea or cof- 
fee, is obtained at any moment. There exist hard 
and soft shelled varieties of both the sweet and bitter 
almond. In time, they should form an important ar- 
ticle of our exports. Almonds can even be grown on 
sea-shores. The crystalline Amygdalin can best be 
prepared from bitter almonds, through removing the 
oil by pressure, then subjecting them to distillation 
with alcohol, and finally precipitating with ethar. The 
volatile bitter almond oil—a very dangerous sub- 
stance—is obtained by aqueous distillation. Dissolved 
in alcohol, it forms the essence of almonds. This can 
also be prepared from peach-kernels. 
Anacyclus Pyrethrum, Candolle.—Countries near 
the Mediterranean Sea. The root is used medicinally. 
Andropogon avyenaceus, Michaux. (Sorghum aven- 
aceum, Chapman.)—North and Central America. 
This tall perennial grass lives in dry, sandy soil, and 
should here be tried for growth of fodder. 
Andropogon bicolor, Roxburgh.—Warmer parts of 
