104 



young plants are a few inches high they may be planted out where 

 required. Cuttings of the half ripened young shoots will strike freely in 

 sand or light soil, under a hand glass, inserting them about an inch 

 deep. Perhaps the easiest and surest means of raising plants is by 

 layers, as the branches will root freely and quickly if simply covered 

 with soil at the parts where they are wanted to strike. 



AFRICAN ALMOND. 

 HISTORY. 



The plant called the African Almond is known botanically as 

 Brabejum stellalifolium (stellatum), and it belongs to the natural order 

 Proteaceee or the Protea family. It is an evergreen shrub, or small 

 tree, with long lanceolate leaves, and produces racemes of white, 

 sweetly-scented flowers. There is some similarity between this plant 

 and the Queensland Nut (Macadamist), to which it is closely allied. The 

 fruit or nuts have a hard outer shell, with a single kernel, which, when 

 roasted, has a somewhat similar taste to the Chestnut. When eaten 

 raw the nuts possess poisonous properties, but are considered wholesome 

 after being roasted. The plant is indigenous to a wide area in South 

 Africa, where it thrives in sandy and peaty soils. 



CULTIVATION AND PROPAGATION. 



The African Almond can be utilised as an ornamental plant, as its 

 foliage is very effective among other shrubs. It is a moderately hardy 

 plant, and will adapt itself to various soils and climates. But it thrives 

 best in a sandy or peaty soil. As, like most other plants belonging to 

 the same order, it is capable of resisting the effects of drought, it might 

 be turned to account in the dry interior districts of Australia. Though 

 the fruit is inferior in quality to many other nuts, yet the hardiness of 

 the plant under certain conditions will cause it to be serviceable. 

 Propagation may be effected by seeds, layers and cuttings. Seeds may 

 be sown at any time, and should be covered to the depth of an inch. 

 Notched layers will root freely if put down early in the spring or 

 autumn. Cuttings of the ripened wood of the past season's growth, 

 with the leaves left on, will rtrike freely in a frame or under a hand glass. 

 They should be inserted about two inches deep in sand or light soil. 



AKEE. 



HISTORY. 



This is the fruit of Blighia sapida (Cupania sapida), an evergreen 

 tree belonging to the natural order Sapindacese, or the Soapwort family, 

 so called because the berries of a plant included in it (Sapindus 

 saponarid) are used as soap in the West Indies. The same family 

 embraces the Chinese fruits known as Longan and Litchi, and the well- 

 known European Horse Chestnut. The Akee is a native of Western 

 Africa, and was taken to the West Indies by Captain Bligh, who also 

 introduced the Bread Fruit to that part of the world, and became still 



