SPRING BLOSSOMS 

 THE ALMOND 



^ I ^HE Almond belongs to the large genus of Primus, which The Prunus 

 brings us every spring such a wonderful wealth of blossom, genus 

 fruit-bearing trees vicing with non-fruiting kinds in their 

 exquisite beauty. The genus is divided into six big classes 

 Amygdalus, Armcniaca, Prunus, Cerasus, Padus, and 

 Laurocerasus including the Almonds and Peaches, Apricots, 

 Plums and Blackthorns, Cherries, Bird Cherries, Portugal Laurels, 

 etc., all of which should adorn our gardens in their season. 



It is strange how seldom in small gardens, where space is a 

 valuable consideration, the double use of these trees for blossom 

 and fruit is realised. The lesson might be more often 

 learnt from farms or cottages, where fruit-laden branches are 

 trained to the eaves, or boughs heavy with Apples mingle 

 with Roses or other autumn flowers. One such cottage 

 garden I have seen lately, clinging to a steep cliff of the 

 Yorkshire coast, with a brilliant blue sea to add to the picture. 

 We, instead, relegate our fruit trees too often to the kitchen 

 garden and orchard, forgetting that Pear and Plum will wreathe 

 the windows with white blossoms some time before the regular 

 garden creepers are out, and will be enriched again in the 

 autumn with the ripened fruit. Clusters of red or purple plums, 

 and golden brown pears, are not to be despised by those with 

 an eye for colour, whilst a rosy-cheeked apple excels them all, 

 and there are other advantages in having an Orange Pippin or 

 Worcester Pearmain at hand ! Fruit trees might stand on the 

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